The Detroit Lions’ secondary ran into several unforeseen obstacles last season. D.J. Reed, Brian Branch, and Kerby Joseph suffered injuries that kept them out of the lineup for an extended period, and Amik Robertson regressed at slot corner, potentially ending his time in Detroit.
While the secondary caved in around itself, Terrion Arnold wasn’t immune to the noise. He battled through a shoulder injury and wasn’t effective when on the field, leading to a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Former first-round picks like Arnold, who was the 24th overall selection of the 2024 draft, normally get a longer leash. But as his third season approaches, Arnold faces an important crossroads and could be facing an under-the-radar position battle in 2026.
Terrion Arnold Could Battle for His Job in 2026 If Lions Add Competition This Offseason
Arnold came into last season with plenty of hype and a veteran to learn from after the Lions signed Reed in free agency. While he had the runway to take off, Arnold immediately went into a nosedive, allowing 23 catches for 331 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and four pass breakups on 41 targets according to Pro Football Focus. While his allowed passer rating dropped from 100.4 in his rookie season to 88.6 last year, Arnold’s missed-tackle rate jumped to 11.8 percent, compared to 6.9 percent the year before.
Those numbers aren’t bad enough for the Lions to pull the plug after two seasons. But it’s not enough to keep the Lions from adding competition to the cornerback room. While Ennis Rakestraw has been plagued by injuries through his first two seasons in Detroit, he is likely to battle for the slot role. The Lions would be wise to upgrade their depth behind Arnold and Reed either through free agency or the draft.
Since the Lions won’t be looking for a starter, they could look for a depth option with upside. Trevon Diggs could be an option if no other team wants to meet his asking price, a projected value of $7.5 million per season by Spotrac. Jameel Dean could be another potential target, as speculation from Fox Sports’ Greg Auman included him on his list of potential free agent fits, despite his prediction that Dean will draw $12 million as a free agent if he chooses to leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Lions could also look for cornerback help in this year’s draft. While there are more pressing needs, such as the pass rush, ESPN’s Jordan Reid noted that this year’s class has several cornerback prospects with a second-or third-round grade, who could help the Lions add a player without using their first-round pick, or select a player who falls down the board.
Either of those scenarios should make Arnold a little nervous. If he plays well, Arnold could convince Brad Holmes to pick up his fifth-year option entering his fourth season with the chance to earn a contract extension. If he plays like he did last year, he could be on his way out of Detroit, opening the door for someone behind him to seize the opportunity.