The Detroit Lions are 1-1, but somehow, it feels like they're 0-2. Perhaps expectations were so high for Dan Campbell's team that watching them struggle so badly on defense has the fans sounding the alarm early.
However, it's not like their struggles are much of a surprise. Even before the Terrion Arnold debacle, it was painfully evident that this team was in great need of help at cornerback, and they didn't do much to address those needs.
Now, with a decimated safety corps, the Lions might have the worst secondary in football. That's why they can't afford to go another day without selling the farm to trade for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
The Detroit Lions can't ignore their need for Joey Porter Jr.
Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers aren't seeing eye to eye, but it also doesn't seem like teams are lining up to get him. With him missing two games with an "injury," it doesn't look like this situation will be settled anytime soon.
That's why the Lions should just pull the trigger and give up a second-round pick to get their hands on the Penn State product. They can't afford to get tangled up in some sort of bidding war at the trade deadline, not to mention that they may not even be in contention at the time if they don't make a move soon.
Rock Ya-Sin has been a major liability through two games, struggling in coverage and getting flagged for laughable defensive pass interference penalties. He's not a starting-caliber cornerback for a championship-caliber team.
Kelvin Sheppard's defense is giving up the second-most passing yards per game (310.5). The Lions also rank 31st in points given up per game (35.5), 30th in successful third-down conversion percentage (58.6 percent), and 31st in total yards given up per game (476.0).
Some might argue that those numbers are inflated and misleading because the Lions had to play on the road in a short week against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and that would be fair to a degree. But what does that have to do with Tyler Shough putting up 30 points in the second half and overtime of the season opener?
Porter Jr. might not be a superstar, but he's shown shades of being a shutdown corner and is also a willing and physical contributor to the running game. More importantly, he's the best player potentially available right now.
The Lions can't fool themselves into thinking this unit is good enough to hold its own in the playoffs, not even when (if) Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch return. They can put up points in a hurry, but that can only do so much when you can't keep the opposing offense off the field.
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