Training camp preview: Will there be any shake-up at CB?

The next installment in our training camp preview series looks at the Detroit Lions’ cornerback group.

In this installment of our Detroit Lions 2025 training camp preview series, we examine the Lions’ cornerbacks, speculate on current and future roles, and discuss how many players from this group could make the 53-man roster.

Previous training camp previews:

• QB: Can Hendon Hooker stick at QB2?
• RB: Will there be any changes to the room?
• WR: Loaded with depth options and youth
• TE: Who will win the TE3 job?
• OT: All eyes on Giovanni Manu
• IOL: What to expect from IOL overhaul
• DT: How Alim McNeill’s injury impacts the room
• EDGE: Roles and Depth battles
• LB: How Malcolm Rodriguez’s injury impacts the room

Setting the table

Like the front seven of the Lions defense, Detroit’s secondary also had its fair share of injuries in 2024, though most occurred late in the year. The Lions opened the season with an overhauled cornerbacks room that featured four new players at the top of the rotation: Carlton Davis, Amik Robertson, as well as rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw. Two returning players, special teams ace Kalil Dorsey and veteran Kindle Vildor, rounded out the room.

For the majority of the season, these six players consistently contributed in the Lions’ secondary. Even when Rakestraw landed on injured reserve in Week 12 and was replaced by Emmanuel Moseley, the defensive backfield rolled on. Unfortunately, in Week 16, both Davis and Dorsey were lost for the season. The following week, Moseley landed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list and was replaced by Stantley Thomas-Oliver. The Lions leaned on just their four healthy corners for the remainder of the season.

Entering the 2025 offseason, the Lions retained under contract Arnold, Robertson, and Rakestraw, then re-signed Dorsey and Thomas-Oliver to one-year deals. Davis (Patriots) and Vildor (Buccaneers) departed in free agency, and the Lions signed D.J. Reed to a three-year contract and veteran Rock Ya-Sin to a one-year deal as their replacements.

Roster construction

Under the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have opened the season with at least six corners, but have surprisingly ended the season with fewer than they started with three times. Let’s take a look at what they’ve done at corner in the previous four seasons:

• 2021: Started the season with six (with one hybrid CB/S), but ended with just five.
• 2022: Repeated the previous season by starting with six (one hybrid) and ending with five.
• 2023: With a second hybrid added to the mix (Brian Branch), the Lions opened with seven and ended with seven.
• 2024: They started with six pure corners (no hybrids) and ended with just four, though three contributors finished the season on injured reserve.

The battleground

The Lions’ cornerback room looks pretty clean on paper. Arnold and Robinson are expected to return to their starting roles on the outside and at nickel, respectively, and...