The Detroit Lions have likely been monitoring their NFC North rivals throughout free agency. Although general manager Brad Holmes has his own priorities to take care of, the Lions would be wise to keep tabs on their rivals to better their chances of finishing atop the division next season.
The Minnesota Vikings have given the Lions plenty to laugh about this offseason, including ongoing quarterback drama that led to Kyler Murray being added as competition for J.J. McCarthy. Having said that, even the most die-hard Detroit fan could admit that not all of Minnesota's moves have been comedic.
After all, the Vikings signed former Pittsburgh Steelers CB James Pierre at a major discount: a two-year deal worth a total of $8.5 million. Not only does that make their defense better, but they also got a player who could've been a key contributor in the Motor City.
James Pierre Should've Been a Lions Target in Free Agency
The Lions' defense gave up 217.4 passing yards per game, ranking 20th in the league. They also gave up the 10-most points per game at 24.3. Considering how D.J. Reed hasn't been perfect, and Terrion Arnold's availability is always a concern, it's easy to see why Pierre would've made sense as a target.
The Lions did add Roger McCreary to be their new nickelback, and Christian Izien should give them more depth there and at safety. While both new faces are expected to make an impact next season, having Pierre join them would've left fans feeling even more excited about the secondary's outlook.
While not the most popular guy out there, Pierre is actually a baller. Pro Football Focus gave him the second-highest grade among cornerbacks last season (86.8), trailing only Devon Witherspoon. He also had the highest grade in coverage (89.7) among 114 eligible players at the position.
Pierre played 14 games and made five starts last season. He logged 30 total tackles (14 solo) to go along with one tackle for loss, one interception, one fumble recovered for a touchdown, and eleven passes defensed. He also allowed just 15 completions on 35 targets (42.9 percent catch rate) for 130 yards and no touchdowns. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 41.4 when targeting him, the lowest in his career.
Now, he'll be reunited with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who coached him as senior defensive assistant in Pittsburgh in 2022.
The Lions could certainly use that type of shutdown corner. He's probably going to be a backup in Minnesota, with Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr. as the starters, and could've enjoyed a similar role behind Reed and Arnold in Detroit.
The 2026 season isn't for another five months, leaving plenty of time for the shine of the Vikings' new signing to wear off. It could take Pierre one or two matchups against Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams to turn the Vikings' addition into something the Lions might be jealous of, into yet another laugh.