Denver has what the Lions need and Brad Holmes should already be dialing
The Terrion Arnold arrest situation left a hole in the secondary. You know it, I know it, and Brad Holmes definitely knows it. The Lions have some young corners in the room. Ennis Rakestraw could develop into something, Rock Ya-Sin brings value, and maybe Nick Whiteside or some of the other guys will surprise. But that’s not enough.
Free agency is one route. A trade is a better one. And the guy who makes the most sense is Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss.
Why Riley Moss actually fits what Detroit does
Look, you’re not getting Sauce Gardner right now. You’re not prying an elite cornerback off a contending roster. Some fans might point to Denzel Ward as the better target, but Ward hasn’t been playing at a high level lately, and Cleveland is going to want far more in return than what it would cost to land Moss.
Moss is still young. He just turned 26 and was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He started every game for the Broncos last season and graded out at 64.2 overall with Pro Football Focus. More importantly, for what the Lions want to do, he posted a 71.6 run defense grade.
Detroit wants to stop the run. That’s a core part of what Dan Campbell’s team is built on, and Moss fits that identity.
He did allow seven touchdowns in coverage, and that’s going to concern some Lions fans. Fair enough. But you have to understand what the market is right now. You’re looking for a good cornerback with a chance to become a very good one. That’s what Moss is. You’re not getting perfection at a reasonable price. You’re getting a solid player who fits the scheme and doesn’t cost you your future.
Why Denver would actually do this
Here’s the thing about the Broncos. They just paid Patrick Surtain a massive deal, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. On top of that, they drafted Jahdae Barron in the first round last year. They’ve got Jaquan McMillan, who they’re going to have to pay soon. They’ve got Kris Abrams-Draine. Denver is deep and set in its secondary.
Moss is in the final year of his contract. The Broncos have a decision to make: pay him next year or move him now and use that money to keep their defense together long-term. Denver has a really good defense it’s trying to retain, and moving on from a good player to create financial flexibility makes sense for where they are right now.
They may have wanted to start Moss this season, but they can afford to let Barron step into that role instead. This is the kind of situation Brad Holmes has built his reputation on identifying. A good player on a team that can afford to move on. A deal that makes sense for both sides.
What it would cost and why it’s worth it
Moss is young, productive, and under contract. The Broncos don’t have to move him. They have leverage.
Start by offering a fourth-round and a sixth-round pick. Denver would probably say yes to that package. If not, you counter with a third-round pick straight up, and that gets it done. Either way, the Lions are not giving up a premium asset for a quality starter who fits their scheme.
That’s a price worth paying. That’s the kind of move that separates good front offices from great ones.
The bottom line
It’s fun to dream about Pro Bowl cornerbacks and big-name acquisitions. But those teams aren’t trading their stars. The Lions need to find a situation where a team can afford to move on from a good player and actually benefit from doing so.
Denver checks every box. Riley Moss fits what Detroit does on defense, he’s young enough to be part of the long-term plan, and the cost is reasonable. Dan Campbell should get on the phone with his old buddy Sean Payton and get this deal done.
Brad Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt. If he sees value in Moss, I trust him. If he sees a better option somewhere else, I trust that too. But this one makes too much sense to ignore.
Is Riley Moss the answer or are we just desperate enough to convince ourselves any corner with a pulse will work? Drop your take below.
