It's not too late for the Detroit Lions to find some help on defense.
The Lions are 2-2 heading into Week 5 and currently sport the worst defense in the NFL by total yards (423.8 per game). Much of that damage is coming from a league-worst pass defense, a secondary diminished by injuries to safeties Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and Avonte Maddox.
And though Branch returned to practice Wednesday and is close to re-entering the playing field following 10 months of rehab for a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Lions still need help at cornerback.
The Lions already missed out on a good cover man in Joey Porter Jr., dealt from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 30 to the Dallas Cowboys for a second-rounder in 2028 and sixth-rounder in 2027. Lions coach Dan
Campbell said the Lions were in on the trade, though the Cowboys ended up with the most convincing offer.
So who's left? Here's a roundup of the latest discussions on who the Lions could acquire this season before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Kristian Fulton, Chiefs
In an article published on Wednesday, Oct. 7, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler identified Kansas City cornerback Kristian Fulton, 28, as a potential trade candidate, with the Chiefs possibly looking to shed Fulton's contract (he's in the last year of a two-year, $20 million deal).
"This team has elite players on both sides of the ball and must embrace its window of contention, whether it's slipping away or not," Fowler writes. "[Fulton] is owed real money – $5 million of his $9.75 million base salary is guaranteed – but perhaps the Chiefs and Lions could split the bill to facilitate a deal."
A toZ Sports' Mike Payton sees the fit, especially with Fulton not being used as a starter.
"Detroit doesn’t just want its corners to cover. It wants them to tackle, too. Fulton was a full-time starter with the Titans and the Chargers, and I think he could start for the Lions right now," he wrote.
Another player Fowler floated in his article was three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but at 32 years old, his best football may be behind him.
Zyon McCullom, Bucs
Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker identified two potential targets for the Lions, the first being Tampa's Zyon McCullom, in the first of an expensive three-year deal for an 0-4 Buccaneers team.
"McCollum enjoyed a tremendous start to the 2024 season, but since then, his production has certainly waned," Locker writes. "Over the first four games of 2026, McCollum sports just a 58.3 PFF coverage grade, although his passer rating against (80.4) and forced incompletion rate (13.3%) are both in at least the 60th percentile."
Payton sees an opportunity for the Lions to get a big-time cornerback not just for this year, but beyond, as well.
"The big draw here is that McCollum is 27 and has two more years left on his deal," he writes. "He wouldn’t just be Detroit’s top corner this year. He could be its top corner for the next two and a half seasons. With D.J. Reed probably not coming back after this year, the Lions are going to rebuild that room anyway. Why not start now with a CB1 you can build around through free agency and the draft?"
Brandon Stevens, Jets
Locker also picked Stephens, the New York Jets cornerback, as a potential target and fit, though it's unclear whether Stephens is actually on the trading block.
"How much the 1-3 Jets will sell is unknown, but general manager Darren Mougey always seems open for business," Locker writes. "Given that Stephens is a 2028 free agent and the team drafted D’Angelo Ponds in the second round, a trade may not be that implausible."
A toZ Sports: Donte Jackson, Chargers
The last realistic target Payton provides is Jackson, 31, of the Los Angeles Chargers. He is someone who could provide immediate veteran experience and "help right the ship immediately," Payton writes.
But even though Jackson could likely be acquired for a late-round pick, he presents a near-term risk.
"The only problem is that Jackson left the Week 4 game with a hamstring injury and hasn’t practiced this week," Payton writes. "It’s only been one practice, and he isn’t on injured reserve. That at least gives you some hope this isn’t a long-term thing and that he could be available for trade again relatively soon. It’s something to monitor."
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions trade targets centered around CBs with desperation growing
