As the Detroit Lions head into the offseason, one position group that they must consider adding depth to in free agency is the secondary.
This season, the Lions’ secondary was hit hard by injuries as Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and Brian Branch all suffered season-ending injuries at various points of the year. Branch was the biggest loss for Detroit as he sustained a torn Achilles tendon in Week 14. While the Lions hope for a quick recovery, they can't and shouldn't expect Branch to be playing like himself immediately.
Therefore, the Lions will likely try to re-sign veteran defensive back Avonte Maddox in free agency, who stepped up when Detroit needed them the most. However, Detroit cannot just depend on him, as we’ve seen over the last two years with the multitude of injuries.
That said, if GM Brad Holmes is looking for someone with the versatility of Maddox, who can play safety and cornerback, he should keep an eye on veteran defender K’Von Wallace. On Monday, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that Wallace was among several practice squad players from teams that lost in the divisional round who are now free agents.
K'Von Wallace Is Now Available to Help Lions with Secondary Headaches
The 28-year-old Wallace ended the season on the Houston Texans’ practice squad. The Texans signed the veteran defensive back to the practice squad in early November after the Minnesota Vikings kicked him to the curb towards the end of October.
Wallace made his 2025 debut in Week 15 with Houston, playing special teams (13 snaps) in a 20-point blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals.
However, a couple of weeks later, the Texans decided to give the veteran defensive back snaps on defense, and he made the most of his opportunities.
In Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Wallace had five combined tackles and a tackle for loss. He also recorded an 85.8 run defense grade and had four stops from the cornerback spot.
The Texans gave Wallace a chance to start in the regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, where he had four combined tackles and a tackle for loss. However, he struggled a little bit in pass coverage, allowing five completions for 98 yards (eight targets), with a 105.2 passer rating.
For a guy who has predominantly been a safety for most of his NFL career, there will be some growing pains at cornerback. That said, the Lions should be open to bringing Wallace aboard on a one-year deal to see if what he showed with the Texans was not a fluke, but potentially more to come.
If Wallace shows something during offseason workouts and training camp, then it has the chance to be a good low-risk, high-reward move for Detroit. But if it doesn’t work out, then Detroit could easily cut ties and maybe find the next Nick Whiteside.
Based on how things played out this season, the Lions should explore all avenues to upgrade their roster, even if that means signing players on the margin.