The Detroit Lions are chasing the Green Bay Packers for the top spot in the NFC North as their bye week comes to a close, and they may need some reinforcements to get them there ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
The Lions are in good shape with a record of 5-2 coming out of the bye, but an addition or two could put them over the top – especially when it comes to upgrading their secondary.
With just over a week until the deadline, the Lions have several directions they could go. But as they prepare for their Week 9 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, one of Detroit’s competitors for a playoff spot beat them to the punch as the Los Angeles Rams reportedly swung a trade with the Tennessee Titans for cornerback Roger McCreary.
Lions Still Need Answers at CB After Roger McCreary Traded to Rams
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Rams will send a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Titans in exchange for McCreary and a 2026 sixth-rounder. While McCreary has been rough in coverage this season, allowing 24 catches, 250 yards, two touchdowns and an interception with a pass breakup on 28 targets this season according to Pro Football Focus, his cost provides some depth to a secondary that is currently relying on Cobie Durant, Darious Williams and Quentin Lake as its starters and Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh Wallace and Tre Brown as reserves.
McCreary isn’t likely to transform the Rams defense into a juggernaut, but it’s reliable depth that the Lions do not have at the moment. Starting cornerbacks DJ Reed and Terrion Arnold are both out with injuries, and Rock Ya-Sin left the Week 7 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although that ailment was revealed to be cramps after the game.
Even if Ya-Sin is good to go, the rest of the group is filled with Arthur Maulet, who was on the team’s practice squad earlier this month, and Nick Whiteside, who has played just 40 defensive snaps this season, according to PFF.
One year after watching a 15-win season go up in smoke due to injuries, the Lions would be wise not to make the same mistakes this season. General manager Brad Holmes has already been beaten once in the race to the deadline and needs to identify another trade target before the window closes next week.