The Detroit Lions appear to have set themselves up at the cornerback position for the foreseeable future after the team dumped a ton of assets into the position earlier this offseason.
The Lions drafted both Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and signed veteran cornerback Amik Robertson in free agency. The team also traded for Carlton Davis, but his future is murky beyond this year, as he’s in the final year of his contract.
Even with the Lions likely having their 2025 starting trio already on the roster, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder thinks the team should sign San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward in free agency next offseason.
“Even after using a first-round pick on Terrion Arnold during last April’s draft, Detroit is likely going to be in the market for a starting cornerback this offseason since Carlton Davis and Emmanuel Moseley are impending free agents,” Holder wrote. “The organization is also in win-now mode and currently projects to have about $ 77.6 million of cap space, per Over The Cap, so addressing the need via free agency makes the most sense. Meanwhile, Ward will likely be one of the top players available at the position after surrendering a meager 62.3 passer rating when targeted and earning an 83.3 coverage grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus.”
While Ward would be a great addition after establishing himself as one of the best at his position in the NFL, it’s unlikely the Lions would dump a bunch of money into him.
That’s because the Lions figure to already have their long-term solution opposite Arnold in Rakestraw Jr., who will serve as a backup in his first season. It’s also possible Detroit could re-sign Davis if he has a good season.
So, barring the Lions not re-signing Davis AND losing faith in Rakestraw Jr. after just one season, we wouldn’t expect to see Ward in a Lions jersey in 2025.
