The Detroit Lions have one of the most stacked rosters in all of football. Nevertheless, even the best things can be better, and this team is by no means an exception to that rule. In fact, their few flaws are pretty evident.
Dan Campbell's team was already dealing with some questions on defense. Their pass rush has next to nothing besides Aidan Hutchinson, and cutting ties with Terrion Arnold left their secondary all the more exposed.
That's why general manager Brad Holmes can't continue to look the other way. With Arnold no longer in the building, this team will have to look for some options at cornerback, even if that means making a late-offseason trade.
The Detroit Lions need to add more firepower at cornerback
Admittedly, the available options in free agency aren't that appealing. There are a couple of veterans past their prime and injury-prone, like Trevon Diggs or Marshon Lattimore, or a solid slot cornerback like Kenny Moore.
Moore would probably make the most sense, though he's better suited to play nickelback, so they would still have to move someone else to the boundary or try their luck with him on the outside. That's not ideal.
Otherwise, they might be forced to make a trade. Cleveland Browns' Denzel Ward might be up for grabs at the right price, though he's aging, and the Browns might want a steep return for his services. Other than that, there's Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine, but the Green Bay Packers are unlikely to make an in-division trade.
Whatever the case, the Lions simply can't afford to roll into next season with that unit. They play in the most competitive division in the league, and with Jordan Love and Caleb Wiliams looking to test cornerbacks and sling the football down the field in almost every dropback, the Lions' cornerback situation may have them licking their chops.
The Lions' Super Bowl window is still wide open, but we've seen how quickly things can change in this line of business. Just hovering around .500 won't cut it in the NFC, and especially not in the NFC North. That's a lesson they had to learn the hard way last season.
Now, with no margin for error and a crucial season ahead of them, they can't rest on their laurels. Arnold's departure gives them a clean slate, for better or worse, and they will have to get creative to address this pressing need before the season opener.
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