The Detroit Lions have made some additions in free agency, which continued on Friday by signing tight end Tyler Conklin. The Lions didn't stop there, as they continued filling in holes on this roster, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Detroit and cornerback Roger McCreary had agreed on a one-year deal.
Mike Payton of A to Z Sports commented, "That’s a big one. There’s your starting slot corner."
For a Lions team that let Amik Robertson walk in free agency, they felt they needed to add another starter to the room. And while they achieved it, they put pressure on Ennis Rakestraw Jr. for the 2026 campaign in the process.
Lions Signing Roger McCreary Made Things Harder for Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Although the Lions drafted Rakestraw with the 61st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, a growing injury history has prevented him from fully meeting expectations. As a rookie in 2024, he missed time during the offseason while recovering from a hernia surgery. He also hurt his ankle in training camp, then dealt with a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Rakestraw played in eight games that year, logging six total tackles across 46 defensive snaps. His unfortunate luck carried over to 2025, where he had to have shoulder surgery in August, ending his campaign before it even started.
It's been a string of several different injuries for Rakestraw since joining the Lions. Even though the Lions like what he could develop into, they aren't going to wait around for him. The decision to sign McCreary shows that.
In 61 career games (38 starts), he has secured 257 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, three interceptions, and four sacks. Last season didn't go as planned for McCreary, as he was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Los Angeles Rams, but he struggled to get on the field. He had just 38 defensive snaps in Los Angeles.
Nonetheless, he can play both inside and outside, yet the majority of his snaps have come on the inside. The Auburn product has racked up 1,780 slot snaps in four seasons, compared to 944 snaps at wide corner. Over the last two years, he has played in 54 or fewer snaps on the outside, which likely signals he'll be on the inside for the Lions.
Rakestraw's Competition Doesn't End with McCreary
There's also the fact that the Lions just signed versatile defensive back Christian Izien, who's been known to play free safety and in the slot. If he hits the ground running, that'll make it even tougher for Rakestraw to carve out a path.
Meanwhile, Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed will be on the outside for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
The Lions will roll into 2026 with these three players as their starters, leaving little wiggle room for Rakestraw. His best way to secure a spot on this roster is to stay healthy and win the CB4 job.
Arnold and Reed both missed at least six games in 2025. There could be times when the Lions will need to lean on their depth, but if Rakestraw isn't available, his time in the Motor City could be coming to an end, especially if he can't beat out the likes of McCreary and Izien for more playing time.