The Detroit Lions made a sudden move in late June, releasing cornerback Terrion Arnold after he was hit with kidnapping and robbery charges. That leaves a hole in the secondary, and training camp hasn’t even started yet.
Arnold’s exit wasn’t something the Lions planned for. Neither was the timing. With the season still months away, the team now has to figure out who gets the snaps opposite Carlton Davis or whoever lines up on the outside. It’s not ideal, but it’s also not a situation without options.
ESPN’s Ben Solak recently went through every NFL team and picked one player who could break out this season. For Detroit, he landed on cornerback Roger McCreary. Solak’s reasoning: McCreary has already shown he can play in this league, even if his last couple of years haven’t lived up to his rookie season.
McCreary started 14 games for Tennessee in 2022 and put up 84 tackles, eight passes defensed and an interception. He looked like a player. But he hasn’t played a full 17-game season since. Injuries and inconsistency have kept him from taking that next step.
Solak compared McCreary’s skill set to Amik Robertson, the former Lion who signed a solid deal with Washington this offseason. Robertson thrived in Detroit’s system, and the thinking is McCreary could do something similar if he gets the chance. He’s smart in zone, physical enough against the run and can stick in man coverage. His lack of length makes him better suited for the slot, but that’s where the Lions might need him most.
It won’t be handed to him, though. McCreary will have to earn the job in camp against Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and rookie Keith Abney II. That’s a real battle, not a formality.
Lions rookies report July 25. Veterans show up July 28. The first full team practice is July 29. By the time that first scrimmage hits, we should have a much better idea of who Detroit trusts in that secondary.
McCreary might be the favorite on paper. But training camp has a way of changing things fast.
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