This offseason has been as close to a nightmare as possible for Kelvin Sheppard as he’s watched his cornerback room crumble and his two star safeties continue to battle through injuries.
The safety situation should be fine early in the season, but the cornerback room is looking a little too shaky for anyone’s comfort.
Terrion Arnold was let go after a run-in with the law, in which his name has yet to be cleared, and Ennis Rakestraw seems to always be fighting some sort of injury. Losing Arnold and then the second-round pick from his same draft class being made of glass is not the most ideal situation for this defense.
Since the cornerback room is still in need of some help, there has been plenty of talk about potential trade scenarios that could benefit the Lions. CBS Sports just revealed a potential trade option for Detroit that would not only fix the issue in the short term but could also turn into a long-term solution.
Christian Gonzalez was the trade piece that Carter Bahns and Zachary Pereles said the Lions should pursue, given the fact that he and the New England Patriots are reportedly still far apart in contract talks, and the young cornerback is growing more frustrated with the situation.
Then the Lions were listed as a potential trade partner for the Patriots if they’re not able to get a deal done. He wants record-breaking money, though, and that’s something that the Lions have to consider. He’s set to make about $2.25 million this season, and his club option was picked up by the Patriots for around $18 million next year. People are speculating that he’s looking for $30-plus million.
Does that remove the Lions from consideration? Not necessarily.
According to that article, Detroit would have the money for him, but it would limit what Brad Holmes is able to do next offseason at other important positions. Is it worth tying up a ton of cap space on a cornerback when other needs will have to be addressed, too?
For a franchise cornerback like Gonzalez? Absolutely.
Christian Gonzalez is worth the hefty price tag
The Lions have many needs that will need to be addressed not only throughout the year but next offseason, too. But with how well Holmes usually does, he can address some of them in next year’s NFL draft.
It’s not very often that a superstar cornerback like Gonzalez hits the market after failed contract negotiations, but if the Patriots shop him, Detroit should absolutely give them a call.
After playing just four games as a rookie, Gonzalez burst onto the scene in 2024 with a top-five finish in Comeback Player of the Year voting. He built on that and made his first Pro Bowl in 2025.
Not only is he a lockdown cornerback with three interceptions and 24 pass breakups in 34 career games, but he’s also just 23 years old and has “future of the franchise” written all over him.
The Lions should take the chance with Gonzalez and chase a Super Bowl immediately. Do I think Holmes and the front office will do it? No, probably not.
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