In case you somehow didn’t already know, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and assistant general manager Ray Agnew spoke with the media Wednesday following the conclusion of training camp and roster cuts. In the wake of that media availability, and a few questions that were asked regarding Seattle Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold, there has been some…discourse.
Since this was the first time Holmes had been available to the media since everything went down, naturally, there would be questions
regarding the former first-round pick. Sure enough, the first one after Holmes’ opening statement was tied to how the team handled everything involving Arnold. And without getting too into the weeds in regards to how the question(s) were articulated, I believe the spirit of the two questions being asked were: Did the Lions do their due diligence during the Arnold situation, and did Holmes and his staff do enough to make sure the cornerback position was in a good place if Arnold was not going to be on the team in 2026 and beyond?
Did the Lions do enough due diligence throughout the situation with Arnold?
Let’s address the point about due diligence first. Like everyone else, they first became aware of the situation involving Arnold earlier in the offseason, prior to the charges being formally filed against him in late July.
During the aforementioned press conference, Holmes stated:
“The more information that we got throughout the process, that was the result of us doing what the best and right thing was for the club, which was: move on and move forward.”
At the owners meetings in late March, Lions coach Dan Campbell said:
“We got all the information that says he wasn’t involved. That’s what we know, that’s all we know, and that’s really all I can say. As far as I know, it’s not a big deal. It seems like he still wasn’t involved with this.”
Simply put, this was not a case of negligence, incompetence, or anything else of that matter. It is called being pragmatic, and working with the information that is readily available at that point in time. Obviously once the charges were filed, new information became available, and Detroit made the decision to part ways with a player who is now on the Commissioner’s Exempt list.
Did the Lions due enough at the cornerback position with the uncertainy surrounding Arnold?
Next up we have the angle that Holmes and his staff did not do enough at the cornerback position since they knew the situation surrounding Arnold was shaky at best. And while everyone is entitled to their opinion, I would ask this—what would you be comfortable in letting go of in order to better shore up the secondary? From the other side of the discussion, the Lions did in fact make moves at cornerback. They re-signed veteran Rock Ya-Sin, someone who was very dependable and productive when he saw the field in 2025. They drafted cornerback Keith Abney II in the fifth-round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they signed free agent Roger McCreary to a one-year deal, too.
Now I know what some fans will respond to those three moves with, “But Morgan, none of those moves were for proven, starting-caliber players—the kind of move that can take the Lions to the Super Bowl.”
And while I understand where that sentiment is coming from, it at least partially ignores the reality of roster-building and the salary cap that all 32 teams in the NFL operate under. Just like the edge rusher position, acquiring a player like that will come with a hefty price tag in the form of salary cap dollars or draft picks. And depending on the situation, it could end up being both.
Circling back to my question about what the Lions would have to give up in order to acquire another young, starting-caliber cornerback. Say Detroit makes a move for that kind of player, they may no longer have the resources available to sign a player like center Cade Mays, which would put them in a tough spot at a position most would have argued was their biggest need prior to the 2026 offseason.
In a different situation, let’s say they are still able to sign Mays, and instead wait until the draft to add to the cornerback depth. Most fans were happy on draft night when Detroit spent a second-round selection on edge rusher Derrick Moore. Finally, after drafting Moore and signing veteran defensive end DJ Wonnum, the Lions are prioritizing the spot opposite star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Would you feel as good about the state of the defensive line room as a whole if Detroit spent their second-round pick on a cornerback rather than taking Moore at pick 44? Or would Holmes once again be fielding questions regarding the edge depth behind Hutchinson and Wonnum?
In that same train of thought, surely there aren’t fans out there wishing that the Lions took a cornerback in the first-round, right? That would leave veteran swing tackle Larry Borom at right tackle opposite All-Pro left tackle Penei Sewell. That would not be the worst scenario imaginable, but it certainly would not inspire confidence in the offensive line taking a much-needed step after a disappointing 2025 season.
On the other hand, say they still drafted Miller at 17th overall, but they used the one-year, $5 million contract Borom got instead on a cornerback. That would leave them with (now injured) offensive lineman Giovanni Manu as the primary backup at tackle…. so Devin Cochran? I don’t know about you, but I would not feel warm and fuzzy about that situation. At all.
In essence, every team is flawed in some form or fashion. If you wanted “more” in the secondary, then you have to explain which piece they acquired is on the chopping block. That is the reality of the NFL, and the way the salary cap works. Resources are finite with the intention to encourage parity across the league.
And while Holmes has had his share of misses as it pertains to the draft, he has far more hits on his resume. That is why the Lions have paid so many young, core players over the last several years. It is also why Detroit is widely considered to have one of the best, and most complete rosters in the league today.
