Detroit Lions: 2 free agent corners to sign before heading to Green Bay
By Bob Heyrman
As it stands now, the Detroit Lions are heading into a week two matchup with the Green Bay Packers with a depleted secondary.
Sometimes the weekly NFL matchups work out perfectly. It’s shaping up to be the exact opposite for the Detroit Lions as they head into Green Bay to lock horns with the Packers.
Aaron Rodgers is coming off a spectacular week one performance against the Minnesota Vikings, after throwing four touchdown passes and over 360 yards. It was star receiver Davante Adams that benefitted the most, catching 14 balls totaling 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns. All of that production came on 17 targets.
In a perfect world, the Detroit Lions would smear veteran corner, Desmond Trufant, on Adams when he lines up outside and Justin Coleman during the times he lines up in the slot. Here is the problem, both of the teams’ top corners are banged up with injuries. Trufant is questionable, and Coleman is out.
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That leaves rookie Jeff Okudah, who is expected to make his first career NFL appearance Sunday, along with second-year corner Amari Oruwariye working outside along with special teamer Tony McRae replacing Coleman in the slot. The Detroit Lions will also be without utility corner Darryl Roberts who can play inside or out when needed.
It’s a depleted secondary heading into this week two matchup that indeed favors the Packers at this point; look at what Rodgers did to a youthful Vikings secondary a week ago.
The Detroit Lions should consider signing a pair of veteran cornerbacks leading up to this crucial week two matchup.
Trumaine Johnson
General manager Bob Quinn needs to consider bringing in Trumaine Johnson and plug him in at one of the starting corner positions. Johnson is a former standout corner. The 30-year old had been one of the leagues’ top corners during his first six seasons in the Rams organization. Johnson averaged 61 tackles, 13 passes defended, and three interceptions throughout those six years. Johnson made a career-high seven interceptions back in 2015.
The former third-round selection since he joined the New York Jets and quickly faded away, which eventually led to his departure. Here’s the thing, who doesn’t struggle on the Jets? Since head coach Adam Gase took over as the teams’ head coach, it’s been a complete dumpster fire in New York. Last season Johnson recorded one interception in seven games.
Johnson has plenty of experience, and if the Detroit Lions don’t want to throw him into the fire, he’d be a valuable asset coming in off the bench. He’s also primarily a man-to-man outside corner, so he fits the Detroit Lions defensive scheme.
Prince Amukamara
Prince Amukamara is a former first-round pick of the New York Giants. The 31-year old remains one of the leagues’ top available free agents.
Amukamara has since moved around the league after his Giants days spending time in Jacksonville, Chicago, and who we now call Vegas. He’s a veteran corner that stands 6-foot-0 and can play in the slot and work on the outside.
He’s broken up 80 passes and collected 477 tackles thus far as a professional along with compiling ten career interceptions throughout his nine-year career.
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The Detroit Lions desperately need some corner depth, and adding a veteran with experience to mix in with this youthful secondary would be the ideal move.