clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Monday open thread: Should the Lions spend on a top tier free agent corner?

The team has a lot of needs but may only be able to splurge on one.

NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions have needs all over the roster that they will need to address in the coming months, but none seem to be bigger than their need at cornerback and edge defender. The Lions have the eight pick in the draft and should have their pick of the litter among a multitude of defensive talent. They will only be able to address one of those needs with that pick, though, and the other will probably have to be addressed via free agency.

An elite edge rusher can earn quarterback money on the open market, meaning the Lions may want to nab one early in the draft on a controlled rookie deal. This makes searching for a corner on the open market seem like a shrewd move.

On the other hand, the top tier of this years cornerback free agent class is not as strong as it has been in the past. Houston’s Kareem Jackson is currently the best corner set to hit the market, though that may change once teams began making more cap cuts. If the top end free agent corners are not that good anyways, then it may be worthwhile to just go for a corner in the draft and land a top tier edge on the open market.

Detroit is facing a conundrum this offseason. What do you think they should do?

NEW: Join Pride of Detroit Direct

Jeremy Reisman will drop into your inbox twice a week to provide exclusive, in-depth reporting and insights from Ford Field. Subscribe to go deeper into Lions fandom, and join us on our path to win the Super Bowl.