The Detroit Lions appear to have positioned themselves well at cornerback for the foreseeable future after the team invested a ton of assets at the position earlier this offseason.
The Lions selected Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and signed veteran cornerback Amik Robertson as a free agent. The team also traded for Carlton Davis, but his future is uncertain beyond this year as he is in the final year of his contract.
Even though the Lions likely already have their starting trio for 2025 on their roster, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report thinks the team should sign San Francisco 49ers Cornerback Charvarius Ward will hit free agency next season.
“Even after using a first-round pick on Terrion Arnold in last April’s draft, Detroit will likely be looking for a starting cornerback this offseason with Carlton Davis and Emmanuel Moseley impending free agents,” Holder wrote. “The organization is also in ‘win now’ mode and currently projects to have about $77.6 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, so addressing the need via free agency makes the most sense. Meanwhile, Ward will likely be one of the best players available at the position after giving up a paltry 62.3 passer rating when targeted and posting an 83.3 coverage grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus.”
While Ward would be a great addition after establishing himself as one of the best at his position in the NFL, it’s unlikely the Lions will invest a lot of money in him.
That’s because the Lions already believe they’ve found a long-term solution for Arnold in Rakestraw Jr., who will serve as a backup during his first season. It’s also possible Detroit could re-sign Davis if he has a good season.
So unless the Lions don’t re-sign Davis AND lose faith in Rakestraw Jr. after just one season, we wouldn’t expect to see Ward in a Lions jersey in 2025.
