Let’s Be Honest About What We’re Looking For Here
The Lions need a cornerback. Terrion Arnold is gone. And no, before you start dreaming, Brad Holmes is not about to pull some magic trick and land an All-Pro. That’s not happening. But it also does not mean Detroit is stuck with scraps.
We already talked about Riley Moss from Denver being the best overall target. But Holmes doesn’t stop at one call. Here are five other realistic names that could make sense without costing Detroit a king’s ransom in draft capital.
Mike Hughes
Remember this guy? Hughes played for the Lions back in 2022 and was actually pretty solid before Atlanta scooped him up. He started for the Falcons across three seasons. He is not going to wow you with highlight plays, but he is reliable as hell.
Here’s what matters: Hughes averages about two penalties a year. That is a massive upgrade over what Arnold was doing in that department. Last season he allowed a reception percentage of just 56.1 and posted a passer rating against of 84.5, the best of his career.
He turns 30 by the end of the season, so the price should not be steep. A sixth-round pick probably gets it done. Hughes already knows the system. That counts for something when you’re trying to plug a hole fast.
Renardo Green
Green is younger. He plays for San Francisco. The 49ers took him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the same class as Arnold.
The problem for Green is that San Francisco’s cornerback room is absurdly stacked right now. Jack Jones, Deommodore Lenoir, their rookie Ephesians Prysock, Jakob Robinson, and veteran Eli Apple are all in the mix. Green was the starter all of last season, but there is growing chatter that the 49ers might consider moving him before the season starts. They are eventually going to have to pay him, and trading him now gives them future flexibility.
This one probably costs a fourth- or fifth-round pick. It might be the most unrealistic of the bunch, but the talent is real. Worth monitoring.
Deonte Banks
Banks was the 25th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It has not worked out with the Giants. He has been a starter, but the results have not matched the draft capital. Now he has to compete with Greg Newsome, Colton Hood, and Paulson Adebo for playing time, and there is a real chance he gets beat out.
The Giants might feel comfortable going with someone like Kori Black or Rico Payton and flipping Banks for whatever they can get.
Because he hasn’t lived up to his draft slot, the Lions would not have to pay a first-round price. A fifth- or sixth-round pick could get it done. This is the riskier play because the production hasn’t been consistent, but Banks has been a starter for multiple years and has shown flashes. You’re betting on potential, which is exactly why you are not giving up much to acquire him.
Paulson Adebo
Adebo signed with the Giants as a free agent last year, and it seemed like the Lions would be in on him at the time. He played under Dennis Allen in New Orleans, and Allen, Aaron Glenn, and Kelvin Sheppard all run a similar defensive scheme to what Detroit operates. It made sense.
The Lions ultimately went after D.J. Reed instead, which was the better move. But after a rough first year in New York, the Giants may feel Adebo is not what they paid for. If they decide to give Banks a longer look under Jon Harbaugh, Adebo could become available.
The Lions would be smart to get on top of that because Adebo fits Detroit’s defense better than whatever New York has been running through its recent coaching changes.
Kristian Fulton
Fulton spent most of his career with the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Chargers before moving to Kansas City in 2025, where injuries derailed his season. He is still just 27 years old.
In 2024, his last full season, he allowed a 65.2 reception percentage. In the few games he played last year, he posted a 50% reception percentage and had four pass breakups before the injury shut him down. In the two games he started for the Chiefs down the stretch, he played pretty well, but Kansas City had already moved on from him as a long-term starter.
The Lions could probably get Fulton for a sixth-round pick. He could come in, compete for the starting job, and likely win it. At 27, he has multiple years of productive football ahead of him. That is the kind of low-cost, high-floor move Detroit should be making right now.
None of These Guys Will Blow Your Mind
And that is fine. The Lions do not need a savior at cornerback. They need someone who can step in, compete, and play solid football. Any of these guys could do that.
Brad Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt. If he decides to pull the trigger on one of these names, or someone else entirely, you trust it. Because this front office has proven they know what they are doing.
So which one of these guys do you want Holmes to trade for, or are you hoping he has a completely different name in mind? Drop your take below.
