The Detroit Lions have made a concerted effort to bolster their secondary depth in preparation for next season. The Lions saw their secondary, specifically safety, get banged up last season, which led them to depend on backups, who stepped up when their numbers were called.
Kerby Joseph’s nagging knee injury kept him off the field as he played six games. Meanwhile, Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles tendon during the final month of the season. Thomas Harper held it down for Joseph, while Avonte Maddox stepped in at safety for Branch and played well.
Lions fans were pleasantly surprised by Maddox’s performance and hoped the team would re-sign him.
The Lions did not do it when free agency opened. Instead, they signed a younger, versatile DB in Christian Izien. But despite Izien’s addition, Detroit still re-signed Maddox on Monday, giving them top-tier depth but also forcing the coaches to make tough decisions later this summer.
Avonte Maddox’s Re-Signing Slightly Complicates Lions’ Secondary DepthÂ
With Maddox back in the fold, he gives the Lions another backup safety slot and at slot corner. Lions general manager Brad Holmes provided an update on Joseph’s progress, but it still left a lot of questions on when he’ll return.
Meanwhile, Branch is reportedly expected not to be ready for Week 1, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. If that’s the case, it could open the door for Maddox to start at strong safety. But Detroit just signed veteran safety Chuck Clark last week, who can play the free or strong safety.
At the other safety spot, which Joseph occupies, the Lions have Izien as a possible option, along with Harper, who filled in nicely last season. Harper racked up 37 combined tackles, five pass deflections, a forced fumble, a tackle for loss, and an interception in 12 games (nine starts).
Let’s just say Joseph isn’t ready. Harper seems to be the best option, leaving Izien and Maddox as backups.Â
However, not all hope is lost for Izien and Maddox, who could compete for the starting slot job with Roger McCreary. But there’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who is finally healthy after missing most of the last two seasons due to injury.
If McCreary wins the job, the Lions could put Rakestraw Jr. as the backup, or maybe move him to the outside as the backup behind Reed. Then you could make Izien or Maddox the backup slot.
Needless to say, this isn’t a bad problem to have for the Lions, as they’ve learned over the last two years that they can’t have too much depth.Â
However, not everyone will get to play on defense, meaning they’ll have to play some special teams. Also, another thing to consider is that if everyone stays healthy through training camp and preseason, it could create a trade option for a team desperate for secondary help.
But that option is way down the line. As for right now, the Lions have a lot of depth, which is good, but they need to figure out what they’ll do with it over the next several months.