With the Nov. 4 trade deadline fast approaching, the Lions are said to be eyeing help on the defensive side of the ball.
The Lions have been "making calls for a corner," according to The Athletic, along with the Ravens, Colts and Rams. You can probably take the Rams off the list after they acquired corner Roger McCreary on Monday in a trade with the Titans in exchange for a swap of picks in the fifth round and sixth.
If that's the cost of acquiring a starting-caliber player at an important position, Brad Holmes and the Lions might be poised to strike before next Tuesday. The team has already had its depth tested in the secondary, with starting corners DJ Reed (hamstring) and Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and star safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (suspension) sidelined for the Lions' win over the Bucs last week.
Reserves Ennis Rakestraw (shoulder) and Avonte Maddox (hamstring) have also been felled by injuries, with Rakestraw out for the year.
Then again, the replacements in the secondary played exceptionally well against the Bucs, from corners Rock Ya-Sin, Nick Whiteside and Arthur Maulet to safeties Thomas Harper and Erick Hallett.
Still, the Lions were haunted by injuries on defense last year when they flamed out in the playoffs after a 15-win season and have already felt the impact of attrition this year.
While their front seven will be fortified by Alim McNeill and the forthcoming returns of linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and defensive linemen Marcus Davenport and Josh Pashcal, it sounds like the Lions want to ensure they aren't exposed in the backend in the second half the season.