The Detroit Lions have been dominating the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Unfortunately, the one-sided effort has come at a cost. The Lions' secondary took a couple of hits at Ford Field when D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold sustained injuries, leaving Dan Campbell's squad in need of potential reinforcements depending on how long the cornerbacks are sidelined.
Detroit's secondary already had room for improvement before Week 4, and now the CB duo's injuries have only highlighted general manager Brad Holmes' need to find help. Although the trade market is one potential avenue to explore, the Lions would also be wise to sign former All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore to give them a hand.
Lions Must Sign CB Stephon Gilmore After D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold Injuries
Gilmore is one of the few noteworthy players who are still looking for work at the end of September. The 35-year-old pass disruptor has been a free agent after playing the 2024 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings, and it might be time to keep him in the NFC North now that the Lions' CB room needs it.
Gilmore's best days are behind him, but his track record makes him a worthwhile flier at this stage of the season. The former South Carolina Gamecock has amassed 149 pass break-ups, 32 interceptions (including a pair of Pick-6s), and 521 solo tackles in 180 career games. He's earned a plethora of accolades for being one of the NFL's top CBs of the last decade-plus, including five Pro Bowl appearances, two first-team All-Pro nods, the 2019 AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, and a Super Bowl ring.
Last season saw Gilmore finish with 62.2 overall and 59.2 coverage grades in 15 starts with the Vikings, according to Pro Football Focus. Although it was his worst performance since 2020, his coverage grade was still better than what Arnold (43.2), Rock Ya-Sin (35.9), Khalil Dorsey (52.4), Avonte Maddox (56.9), and Amik Robertson had at the time of writing.
There's also the fact that Gilmore has a loose connection to the Lions. His younger brother, Steven Jr., spent over a year with Detroit after going undrafted in 2023. He was waived in August 2024, spent some time in the United Football League, before he was signed and waived by the Arizona Cardinals this summer. Perhaps the younger Gilmore will put in a good word about the franchise to his big brother.
With how quickly injuries can pile up in the NFL, the Lions cannot afford to sit on their hands for long. GM Holmes must call Gilmore's agent in the coming days if he wants an already-unperforming secondary's performance to decline even more.