The Detroit Lions need as much help as they can get to bounce back from a disappointing season. Dan Campbell's team has all the tools on offense and will face a much more forgiving schedule, but there are still some questions on the other side of the field.
That's especially true of the cornerback situation. Even before letting Terrion Arnold go, that room was already a major concern for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Now, with the preseason in the record books, that issue clearly hasn't improved much.
Considering that, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report claimed the Lions should make a run at Pittsburgh Steelers star CB Joey Porter Jr., who's unlikely to get a contract extension and would be a great fit in Michigan.
The Lions should be all-in on Joey Porter Jr.
"If things get to a point where the Steelers don't believe they can keep Porter, flipping him for a high 2027 pick will become an option for them," wrote Knox. "The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, could be prompted to make an aggressive move for a defensive difference-maker like Porter."
Of course, giving up a first-round pick is always a tough ask, much more so in one of the most stacked and promising classes in recent years. Also, we're talking about a former second-rounder who'll likely demand a huge raise wherever he lands.
That said, the Lions shouldn't be among the top teams in next year's NFL Draft, so chances are that first-round pick will be much closer to an early second-round selection. That, of course, provided they add Porter Jr. to fix their most glaring issue.
While not yet a superstar, Porter is a promising player with shutdown corner potential. Also, the Lions don't have many options at the position right now, and he's probably the best player they can realistically aspire to get at this point.
Rookie Keith Abney II is slightly undersized and looked raw at times in the preseason. He might be better suited for a role in the slot, at least at this point in his development, before they can unleash him on the boundary again.
Even coming off a down year, the Lions should be considered one of the teams to beat, but that doesn't mean they can afford to rest on their laurels, especially in such a tough division like the NFC North.
With gunslingers like Caleb Williams and Jordan Love looking to test the secondary with big plays, and explosive playmakers like Luther Burden III, Christian Watson, and Justin Jefferson on the other side of the field twice a year, Porter Jr. can certainly be a breath of fresh air, even if he comes at a steep price.
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