On the roster: D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Avonte Maddox, Khalil Dorsey, Rock Ya-Sin, Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Key losses: Carlton Davis III, Kindle Vildor
| Name | Games | Tackles | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.J. Reed* | 14 | 64 | 0 | 11 |
| Terrion Arnold | 16 | 60 | 0 | 10 |
| Amik Robertson | 17 | 50 | 0 | 8 |
| Ennis Rakestraw Jr. | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Avonte Maddox* | 17 | 20 | 0 | 5 |
| Khalil Dorsey | 14 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| Rock Ya-Sin* | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Stantley Thomas-Oliver | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
*with another team
Best competition: No. 3 outside cornerback
Reed and Arnold are poised to start at the two outside cornerback spots, but head coach Dan Campbell made it clear this offseason the best players are going to play, and no one will be given a spot. They'll be earned. Maybe there's a chance Rakestraw pushes Arnold for a starting spot, but if not, he'll be competing with Maddox, Ya-Sin, Dorsey and Thomas-Oliver to be the next guy up on the outside in case of injury.
Rakestraw played in only eight games last year, mostly on special teams, as he dealt with sports hernia, ankle and hamstring injuries. He got a chance to play on the outside with Arnold not taking part in OTA practices this spring, and Campbell raved about his performance. Can he keep it up when we get to camp? It's not a matter of if injuries are going to happen but when, and between Rakestraw, Ya-Sin, Dorsey and Thomas-Oliver the Lions have some veteran options with good experience.
Twentyman's take: This is a cornerback group that has a chance to be really good led by Reed, Arnold and Robertson.
Reed is a seven-year veteran who fits perfectly in Kelvin Sheppard's scheme as an experienced man-cover corner. Arnold really came on strong last year as a rookie and is expected to take a big leap in Year 2. Robertson has proven he can be a top nickel cornerback and he has the versatility to step outside and play there too. Maddox will enter camp as the backup nickel and No. 3 safety, and it's comforting to know the Lions have some veteran experience in a backup role at each spot.
With arguably the best safety duo in the NFL in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch behind this cornerback group, the secondary has a chance to be a really good if they stay healthy. It's a veteran group with versatility and experience. It's one of the position groups I expect to see big gains from in 2025.
View photos of the Detroit Lions cornerbacks heading into training camp.
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 1, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 7, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on May 28, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 12, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 21, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on May 28, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 19, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 7, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on May 29, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 1, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 17, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 28, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10, 2024 in Houston. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 5, 2024 in Detroit. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (1), Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84), Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30), and Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 28, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 17, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (38) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 1, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (38) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 21, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (23) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on June 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (23) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 19, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
By the numbers:
2: Total number of interceptions from Detroit's cornerback position among their 16 interceptions as a team last season.
39.6: Opponent passer rating on throws into the end zone in 2024. Opponents were just 7-for-52 on those attempts with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. That rating was the lowest in the NFL last season.
55.6: Completion percentage for opposing quarterbacks when targeting Arnold last season.
62: Completions of 20-plus yards allowed by Detroit's defense last year. Only Jacksonville (71) allowed more.
81.7: Career passer rating allowed for Reed when targeted by opposing quarterbacks. He's only given up more than two touchdowns in his coverage area in just one season, and that was in 2021 with Seattle when he allowed three.
1,804: Yards after the catch allowed by Detroit's defense in 2024. That was the seventh fewest in the NFL last season.
Quotable: "Anytime you get a chance to have as many reps as he had (as a rookie), it helps you," Lions passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend said this offseason of Arnold.
"The only way you can get better is to get a chance to rep. He understands how they are attacking him, and he found that out by himself. 'What do I do best? How can I make those strengths stronger and then my weaknesses, what do I do now this offseason to make them better?'
"He is trying to be the best player he can be, and that's what it takes. You have to work on your craft, and you find out how you can get better in the offseason, and he's working on that."
