Nothing is certain until the situation ultimately plays out, but the Detroit Lions might need to replace one of their starting cornerbacks in 2026.
Terrion Arnold, chosen by the Lions in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, was arrested Wednesday in connection to an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred in Florida earlier this year. Arnold, who investigators believe was the primary conspirator, is facing facing four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.
Through his representation, Arnold denied any involvement. A statement from EAG Sports Management said “the government appears to be relying on testimony from multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own involvement and may have substantial incentives to shift blame in an effort to lessen their sentences.”
Putting the legal portion of the situation to the side, Arnold, when healthy, has been near the top of Detroit’s depth chart at outside cornerback over the last two seasons, starting 22 of the 24 games he’s appeared in. Arnold struggled in stretches, but flashed promise in 2025 before an aggravated shoulder injury against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving ended his season.
Where do the Lions go from here? Veteran D.J. Reed is expected to man one of the outside positions. Across from him, the Lions have a number of options. Here are the top five, as we see it.
Rock Ya-Sin
Ya-Sin was Detroit’s most reliable cornerback last season, filling in for Arnold and Reed, the latter of whom missed six contests while dealing with a hamstring strain. The veteran allowed 27 receptions for 287 yards and a touchdown across 382 snaps in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. His passer rating allowed (77.7) ranked 22nd among the 86 cornerbacks in the NFL who were in coverage for at least 300 reps. Ya-Sin also proved to be a capable scheme fit. The Lions place an emphasis on cornerbacks who excel in man coverage, and 32.2% of his coverage snaps were in man, the 17th highest share among those same 86 cornerbacks.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Injuries have derailed Rakestraw’s first couple of professional seasons, with core muscle and hamstring issues limiting him to eight appearances as a rookie and a shoulder injury he suffered during last year’s training camp ending his second campaign before it could begin. Rakestraw, drafted 61st overall in 2024, was a standout at Missouri, where he played mostly on the outside but showed some ability to play nickel. Since getting healthy, the Lions have had Rakestraw focused on the outside spot. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Rakestraw, in an effort to stay on the field, has worked with the team’s strength and conditioning staff to add more mass to his frame.
Roger McCreary
The Lions signed McCreary in March to compete for a role in the secondary. Throughout practices open to reporters during OTAs and mandatory minicamp this offseason, McCreary repped with the first-team defense as its starting nickelback, the position where 70.6% of his defensive snaps have come over the last three seasons. McCreary, however, does have experience on the outside. It’s where he played collegiately at Auburn, and it’s where most of his reps came as a rookie with the Tennessee Titans, who selected McCreary early in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. McCreary is on a one-year deal with a 2026 cap hit of about $1.26 million.
Khalil Dorsey
Undrafted in 2020, Dorsey spent two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and was briefly with the New York Giants before he found a home with the Lions, who first brought Dorsey onto their practice squad in 2022 but have had him on their initial 53-man roster each season since 2023. Much of Dorsey’s impact has come on special teams, with coordinator Dave Fipp once referring to him as one of the “great gunners in the game of football right now.” Dorsey has 177 career snaps on defense, including 20 in 2025. He missed six games last season due to a wrist injury and a concussion.
Nick Whiteside
Whiteside, like Dorsey, doesn’t have a ton of defensive experience. An Auburn Hills native who attended Saginaw Valley State, Whiteside was undrafted in 2023. He was with the Washington Commanders as a rookie and later played for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks before the Lions signed him near the beginning of training camp in 2025. Whiteside was waived in August but brought back later in the season. His best moments came in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October, when he played 40 snaps on defense and helped limit the Buccaneers to nine points. Whiteside allowed only one reception in the victory, according to PFF.
Other cornerbacks
Remaining cornerbacks on the roster include rookies Keith Abney II, Aamaris Brown and De’Shawn Rucker. Abney was selected in the fifth round of April’s draft and played on the outside at Arizona State, but general manager Brad Holmes indicated the Lions would have Abney in the slot. Defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend said “inside is probably better-suited for (Abney), but he’s smart enough to play outside, as well.” Brown (UNLV) and Rucker (Tennessee) were undrafted signees. Brown had an interception during mandatory minicamp, picking off a pass from undrafted rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Possible options for Lions at cornerback after Terrion Arnold’s arrest
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Richard Silva, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
