The Lions went to work on the secondary in 2024. LOTS of new faces. Is this now a good secondary? Look at what Holmes/Campbell did:
Traded for Carlton Davis. 27 years old, 2nd rd. pick in 2018.
Signed Amik Robertson. 26 in July. Started 21 games in his four year NFL career. 4th rd. pick.
Drafted Terrion Arnold.
Drafted Ennis Rakestraw.
Signed CJ Moore back. 28 years old. Undrafted 2019.
Returning Brian Branch, Iffy and Kerby Joseph. Steven Gilmore (turns 24 in September) and Vildor. Also returning Brandon Joseph (23 years old).
That is a LOT of work and turnover in a single season. Amik OR Arnold (likely Arnold) starts opposite Davis and that feels like a HUGE upgrade over 2023. Jerry Jacobs never got back to his form from earlier in his career
Here is my breakdown:
Davis > Sutton
Arnold/Robertson > Jacobs
2024 Branch > rookie Branch
2024 CB depth > 2023 CB depth…by FAR. I advocated for drafting 2 CBs in 2023 and we finally got that in 2024.
2024 Iffy > Walker/2023 Deuce (never got back to his earlier form either).
Joseph is the same and we need a strong season from him.
Ceedy Deuce on paper was an incredible addition to this secondary but Branch beat him out at nickel AND Ceedy just wasn’t very good as a true safety here.
Safety depth looks like CJ Moore and Brandon Joseph. Weak depth in 2023 and weak again in 2024. Likely better now as at least Brandon Joseph is in his second season and CJ Moore is back. Simmons would sure be a nice signing fort us for one season.
It sure feels like the secondary is MUCH better in 2024 on every level. Seeing Arnold and Rakestraw on this roster makes me smile! I LOVE those two draft picks. I really believe Sutton’s issue was injury in 2023 but damn was he bad AND that means we had nothing behind Sutton so he could sit and heal. Now we do. I am actually excited to see what Stephen Gilmore can do as a second year guy too:
“The younger brother of All-Pro corner Stephon Gilmore, Steven Gilmore is a 41-game starter at Marshall, possesses a nose for the football—nine career interceptions and 34 pass breakups—and is a willing tackler in run support. He’s undersized, but very durable, never missing a college game due to injury. Gilmore’s experience is based as an outside corner, but with his frame and run support prowess, a move inside to nickel could be in his future in the NFL.”
I think this is a BIG upgrade to our weakest position group from 2023. Iffy was a revelation in 2023 late. But one more credible safety (Simmons) would make me feel a LOT better about safety. Iffy’s injury history concerns me but the dude can also play. 3 sacks and 2 INTs in 2023 while playing in all 17 games and the playoffs too. Depth is a concern there though but I now Iffy as a credible starter at strong safety. 6’2" and likely 210+ pounds roughly.
TBD. It could be top 5 if all our new guys hit, it could be shit if we get crushed by injuries like we did last year. It certainly looks a lot better on paper.
Using your scale/rubric 3/5 is a 60%. I’ll buy 4:5 but not 3/5.
Air mentioned in another post that some Lions fans are kind of overlooking Carlton Davis. Davis is the best Lions CB since Darius Slay. Not as good as Slay but a very solid veteran. A serviceable #1 CB. It has been years since we had a dude this good. Not a Pro Bowler (whatever that means) but a veteran who has legit NFL talent.
From there Terrion Arnold and Robertson will be a good camp battle. I expect Arnold to win that battle and I believe Arnold will be a credible starter as a rookie. I feel WAY better about Arnold versus Okudah for example. From there we have credible CB depth for the 1st time in maybe decades. Robertson is as great #3 CB and Rakestraw has time to acclimate his game. But Ennis has talent though. Dude can play. I like that pick as much or more than Arnold based on value.
From there Iffy is a really solid starting level strong safety. Joseph regressed in 2023. I loved him as a rookie. We know he has talent and we know an injury played a role. When healthy he is a credible starting free safety. And we gave Branch!
Safety depth is a concern.
I think it is more fair to call this a 4/5 grade for the secondary. Elite? Nope. Could he really good? Yep. Even slightly below average would be a HUGE step up for this defense. If the secondary is a “B” level secondary (4/5) this Lions defense might be really, really good in 2024.
This secondary is definitely better except at Safety.
Last year there was CJGJ, Kerby, Walker and Iffy.
This year Iffy, Kerby, Brandon Joseph, and CJ Moore.
Even if you consider Branch a Safety he was on both units and hasn’t played much NFL Safety on either.
I hope Iffy and Kerby can stay healthy and play at least 16 games a piece.
There’s still potential for issues though. Playing CB as a rookie is notoriously difficult so I don’t have much expectation for either Arnold or Rakestraw, and while I expect Davis to perform at a high level, I’m not high on Robertson, from what I’ve seen and read he seems like Jerry Jacobs 2.0, all hustle and fight but with some significant weaknesses. Moseley won’t be up to speed until the middle of the season and it remains to be seen if he still has anything on his two new knees, and then we’re down to Vildor, who simply ain’t it.
At safety I think Kerby is a good player but not exceptional, and Iffy only really flashed for 6-7 games and I’m not sure we can rely on either that level of play or his health. Moore is the next man up and he’s just not an NFL every down safety, we know that already.
Branch I expect will shine, but other than him and Davis there are question marks over everyone else. What I’ve spelled out is the worst case scenario, but it’s also not outwith the realms of possibility that we find ourselves with only one quality CB and inconsistent play at safety. I’d really like to see some of that cap space spent on one of the high caliber veteran safetys that are still out there.
While I think we can all agree that last years secondary was really bad, just how bad when the opposing QB’s had over 4 seconds to get rid of the ball? The least important stat I have ever heard of is pressures, because when a QB has that kind of time to throw the ball just how important can it possibly be? Did those “pressures” lead to turnovers or incomplete passes? Well, with DT’s that can collapse the pocket and a secondary that can cover, I believe that the “pressure” rate will drop under 4 sec and the improved secondary will lead to increased sacks and turnovers. Pressure CAN mean something, or like last season it can be meaningless.
