The Detroit Lions' lack of defensive depth was exposed late in the 2024 campaign, ultimately leading to their unraveling in the playoffs against the Washington Commanders' ferocious attack.
Despite losing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, it's paramount for the Lions to make defensive upgrades. Getting Aidan Hutchinson back from injury will help matters, but Detroit doesn't have true playmakers in the secondary outside of All-Pro Kerby Joseph.
General manager Brad Holmes will likely try to improve the defensive back group in the NFL Draft. Even if he doesn't though, the Lions shouldn't hesitate to say goodbye to one veteran defender they recently signed before the 2025 season begins.
Lions Shouldn't Be Afraid to Cut CB Rock Ya-Sin Even After Recently Signing Him
The Detroit Lions signed veteran cornerback Rock Ya-Sin to a one-year deal in mid-March. It's a good idea to bring someone with 39 games of experience in and the former 2019 second-round pick can have an opportunity, but the Lions paid just over $1 million, which isn't enough to keep Ya-Sin around at the expense of a younger player with more upside.
Ya-Sin will be 29 years old in May and ranked 204th out of 222 qualified cornerbacks at Pro Football Focus in 2024. NFL teams frequently sign players to cheap deals before ultimately releasing them prior to trimming the active roster to 53 in the fall, and Ya-Sin should fall in that category. He appeared in 13 games for the San Francisco 49ers though played only 8% of the snaps. Not a major contributor on special teams either, the Lions need to be focused on bigger upgrades than Ya-Sin can provide.
2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold is a strong start alongside Amik Robertson while Ennis Rakestraw has shown promise, but everyone should be expendable at the position otherwise. That doesn't even count newly-signed D.J. Reed, who belongs on the roster as well. Ya-Sin doesn't have experience in the system and is the most logical cut candidate at this point provided Detroit drafts someone.
The NFC features fierce wide receiver groups, from A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, it's a gauntlet for defensive backs even if Jameson Williams believes the Lions are the best of the bunch.
To compete in this conference, you have to get great cornerbacks. Ya-Sin doesn't fit the bill and it should be easy for the front office to say goodbye to him unless he has a dramatic turnaround during the summer.