Detroit’s Secondary Is Already Crowded Enough
The Indianapolis Colts just cut cornerback Kenny Moore loose after he requested a divorce from the organization. And yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking because half of Lions Twitter is already there with you: “We need this guy!”
Here’s the thing though. We don’t.
Look, I get it. Moore has name recognition. He was a Pro Bowler back when the Lions were still figuring out how to spell “playoffs.” But sometimes the smart move is the boring move, and Brad Holmes has earned enough trust to not panic-sign every decent player that hits the market.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The Lions currently have 18 defensive backs on the roster. That’s more than one-fifth of the entire team dedicated to covering receivers and tackling running backs.
We’re talking Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Rock Ya-Sin, Thomas Harper, Chuck Clark, Ennis Rakestraw, Keith Abney, Khalil Dorsey, Roger McCreary, Nick Whiteside, Christien Izien, Avonte Maddox, Dan Jackson, Loren Strickland, Aamaris Brown, and De’Shawn Rucker. That’s not a collection of practice squad heroes either.
Sure, Brian Branch is dealing with some injury concerns right now. But behind him you’ve got Kerby Joseph, who Holmes says is trending in the right direction and is posting workout videos that suggest he’s ready to ball out. Thomas Harper played well when called upon, Chuck Clark has been a reliable NFL starter his entire career, and guys like Christien Izien and Avonte Maddox can play multiple positions in the secondary.
Moore’s Best Days Are Behind Him
Let’s be honest about what Kenny Moore is at this point in his career. Yes, he made the Pro Bowl, but that was back in 2021. Since then? Injuries derailed him in 2022 and again in 2025. His tackling has become a legitimate problem.
Moore missed 16 tackles in 2024, which ranked fourth-worst among cornerbacks. Pro Football Focus gave him a 37.4 tackle grade. That’s not “veteran leadership” bad, that’s just bad bad.
Oh, and he’ll be 31 when the season starts. The Lions have been getting younger at every position, not older. They just spent a fifth-round pick on Keith Abney and have Roger McCreary already capable of playing the slot. Why would you add an aging corner with tackling issues when you’ve got young guys who can do the job?
This feels like one of those moves that looks good on paper to fans who remember Moore from his prime but makes zero sense when you actually look at the roster construction and what Detroit is trying to build. Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt here. Let the man cook.
Am I wrong for trusting Brad Holmes over the Twitter mob, or are we really about to sign every aging veteran that gets cut? Let me know in the comments.
This is exactly the kind of level-headed take we need right now. Brad’s shown he knows what he’s doing, and just because a name pops up in free agency doesn’t mean we gotta panic grab him. We got depth, we got young talent, let’s trust the process.
I hear what you’re saying about the roster being full, but I’ve been burned enough times to not be 100% sold on every decision yet. That said, Brad has at least earned the right to make these calls without us screaming into the void about it.
You know, after all the garbage years we’ve sat through, it’s actually nice to have a front office that’s thinking about the future instead of chasing shiny objects. The way Holmes is building this thing feels different from the chaos we used to deal with.