The Detroit Lions entered the season with major questions at cornerback, and after watching Tyler Shough torch the secondary in Week 1, those concerns only grew. It's early, but there's clearly a shortage of talent.
Given Joey Porter Jr.'s discontent with the Pittsburgh Steelers and potential holdout, plus the Lions' evident needs, the former second-round pick looked like a no-brainer trade target. They still need someone to fill in for the departed Terrion Arnold.
However, those rumors now seem to be dead in the water. When asked about potentially making a big trade, head coach Dan Campbell seemingly shut down that possibility. He may not have the final say in this, but he's usually well aligned with general manager Brad Holmes.
The Lions may not trade for Joey Porter Jr. (or anyone else)
“I don’t see that. I would say this, though: It gives us options. Whether that be our own guys or — it just gives us flexibility,” Campbell said. “There’s a lot that can happen.”
This is certainly a bit of a gut punch. While Porter Jr. isn't a superstar, he's a highly productive player who hasn't even reached his prime. He can contribute against the run as well, and he would've given this team a long-term answer at cornerback.
While they were never seriously considered to be in the mix for Maxx Crosby, perhaps this also rules them out of that race. Granted, they'll probably make some minor moves here and there, but just don't expect a blockbuster deal.
The Lions seem to overvalue their roster, and this stance might come back to haunt them when it matters the most. They haven't learned from their previous mistakes, and they can't expect to simply outscore everyone else.
Week 1 is often misleading, but it also should've been a wake-up call for this team. The Saints are a tougher team than most people give them credit for, but there are levels to this, and there's no way this team should've had to resort to a late-game stop in overtime and at home to pull this one off.
The NFC North is full of gunslingers. Caleb Williams and Jordan Love are unafraid to sling the pigskin down the field, and with playmakers like Justin Jefferson, Rome Odunze, Christian Watson, and Luther Burden III roaming free, the Lions' shaky secondary is an easy target.
Maybe rookie Keith Abney II will prove to be ahead of schedule and give this team a boost at some point. But putting all that much on a first-year player who wasn't even a first-round selection is certainly a risky approach.
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