On Monday, the Detroit Lions opted not to drag out the Terrion Arnold legal drama and just end things with their 2024 first-round pick. Arnold was unceremoniously released just hours after a Florida judge awarded him a bond set at $1 million. It’s a stunning end to his Lions career, but instead of watching Arnold’s serious and complicated case drag on for months, if not years, they’ve decided to move on.
That leaves the Lions secondary in a vulnerable spot. We’ve already discussed some of the free
agent options Detroit could pursue at cornerback, and some of the internal choices on the roster to fill Arnold’s starting role, but let’s focus our discussion today on one, single player.
Today’s Question of the Day is:
Can Rock Ya-Sin be the Lions’ starting cornerback?
My answer: Let’s look at the entirety of Ya-Sin’s career.
Drafted 34th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Ya-Sin tallied 29 total starts in his first three seasons, including 13 during his rookie year. That first year was undoubtedly promising. He posted a 65.3 PFF grade, including an impressive 72.5 run defense grade–something that certainly appeals to the Lions. However, his coverage grades were inconsistent, at best. He graded out at 62.2, 48.2, and 72.4 from 2019 to 2021, and allowed a passer rating of 93.4 or higher in each of his first three years.
From there, he was sent to the Raiders in a rare player-for-player trade (Colts got Yannick Ngakoue). He played out the final year of his rookie contract there, posting an admirable 45 tackles, seven pass breakups, and a 65.7 PFF grade in nine starts. He also posted his best year in coverage earning a 65.8 PFF coverage grade and allowing just an 82.5 passer rating when targeted.
The next two years, he bounced between two very strong defenses in Baltimore and San Francisco, but only started one games between those two seasons. Then, he finally found his way to Detroit last year. As a reserve, Ya-Sin eventually found his way to the field to start six games and was a very pleasant surprise for the Lions. He posted the lowest passer rating allowed of his entire career (77.7), the most pass breakups in his career (nine), and earned a respectable 64.8 PFF coverage grade, good for 47th out of 120 qualifying cornerbacks.
It wasn’t all great, though. Ya-Sin had a rough year as a run defender, earning just a 50.8 PFF grade. He was also called for eight penalties, the most since his rookie season.
So with several different teams, Ya-Sin has stepped up and provided at least average play for the defense. But he hasn’t been relied upon to be a full-time starter since the Raiders traded for him in 2022. And if we’re being completely honest, the Lions didn’t re-sign him with the intention of starting him. There’s a reason he signed a one-year, $3.2 million deal this offseason.
That said, that contract is a significant increase from last year’s veteran minimum salary ($1.17 million). The Lions like him. They like him a lot.
“Rock came in and did an excellent job. But that’s who he is,” Lions defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend said earlier this month. “He’s a pro. He’s diligent, he works the right way. I wouldn’t expect anything less. I’m so happy to have him back because for us to get him back, that was a good move for us to get a player like that with the ability to play and the experience that he has and the type of leader that he good for our room.”
So I believe Ya-Sin can give the Lions average cornerback play this year, especially since he won’t have to be the team’s No. 1 guy. That is reserved for D.J. Reed.
Now, I still believe the Lions would be wise to make a move at cornerback for two reasons. One, is I believe competition is important, and Ya-Sin may be best served as the top outside cornerback reserve than your Day 1 starter. Additionally, I am quite concerned about the depth in that room. If anything happens to Reed or Ya-Sin — and let’s be real, it probably will — Detroit will be right back in “Legion of Whom” territory, having to start an inexperienced Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, or Nick Whiteside (three combined starts). Or Detroit could opt to move Roger McCreary to the outside and start rookie Keith Abney in the nickel.
Either way, Detroit should better protect themselves at cornerback depth and add a starting-capable player.
