Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Visiting With, Trading For Cornerbacks?

As anyone who has read my most recent previous entry well knows, I am very concerned about the Lions secondary moving forward, and despite the obvious improvements that they have made to their front seven during the early days of free agency, that personnel group needs to take considerable precedent for Martin Mayhew prior to the ‘10 season.

There is now a flurry of reports regarding the Lions and a pair of young, high-upside, cornerbacks who could very well help immediately:

from Pro Football Talk:On Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons signed veteran cornerback Dunta Robinson to a free-agent deal. With Robinson under contract, they no longer need cornerback Chris Houston.

And so, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they’re trading Houston. To the Lions. For a sixth-round draft pick and a flip-flop of fifth-rounders.

It’s a dramatic free fall for the second-round pick from Arkansas, who has started 37 regular-season games and every 2008 contest — including a playoff loss to the Cardinals.

Chris Houston (#23) Looks Very Much Like a Lions DB in This Picture

Besides a potential trade for Houston, there are numerous reports that the Lions will visit with recently released former Rams CB, Jonathan Wade:

from MLive.com:Jonathan Wade, a third-round pick in 2007 for the St. Louis Rams, will visit the Detroit Lions tomorrow.

Wade, who was released by the Rams, could add some depth for the Lions, who have lost their top three cornerbacks from last year. Detroit cut Phillip Buchanon and Will James and Anthony Henry left via free agency.

Wade started just six games in his three years with the Rams, including four starts last season. He didn’t have any interceptions in those games, but had one interception in each of his first two seasons.

Neither player will resemble a Hall of Famer like Lem Barney, nor will they likely even exceed the Bryant Westbrook-level in performance, but, that being said, each player does possess some upside and could be better than the aging, feckless stiffs that the Lions have utilized in their secondary during recent seasons.

This all comes after the Lions had been previously connected with the San Diego Chargers in a potential trade for disappointing, but talented DB Antonio Cromartie, who was ultimately traded to the New York Jets.

Never, Ever, in a Million Years, Did I Think I Would Make a Backhanded Compliment of Bryant Westbrook's Play as a Lion

If the Lions actually add both players, that leaves them with Wade, Houston, Kevin Hobbs, Jack Williams, Eric King, Brian Witherspoon, and former CFL player and off-season addition, Jonathan Hefney, hardly a formidable group. In fact, King, Williams and Witherspoon all had their seasons end with significant injury, in 2009, which only adds to my concern.

Veteran journeymen Lito Sheppard was recently released by the Jets, and it would seem (at least) prudent for the Lions to bring him in for a look, as well.

The Lions Should Take Note of What a Fantastic Defensive Back (Lem Barney) Looks Like

The Lions have been poor in their secondary for so long that is difficult not to be overwhelmingly optimistic about the team’s personnel, with each successive acquisition. The general sentiment among many fans is that the Lions secondary absolutely could not perform any worse. Yet, during recent seasons the situation continues to remain dire.

I am particularly excited about the addition of a former second round draft pick in Houston, for the relatively low cost of a 6th-round draft pick (and a fifth round draft position swap). Houston also possesses a lot of game experience, which shoould not be discounted.

The Lions will consider strongly adding secondary help in the upcoming draft, too. At this point, the Lions current secondary is clearly undermanned. Hopefully, the Lions will continue to make acquisitions that aid the team’s long, arduous march towards respectability, starting with the potential additions of Jonathan Wade and Chris Houston.