Although the Lions’ pre-draft projections have focused primarily on rebuilding the offensive line or selecting an EDGE, one critical need is fixing Detroit’s battered secondary.
Three Strong Draft Prospects To Strengthen Detroit’s Battered Secondary
In 2024, the Lions had arguably the best starting secondary duo in the NFL with Pro Bowlers Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. The pair accounted for 125 solo tackles, 13 interceptions, one sack, 16 pass defenses, a forced fumble, and a pick-six.
A year later, the Lions’ secondary was decimated by an avalanche of injuries. Instead of Detroit’s secondary being a point of defensive strength, it became a weakness to be exploited over and over again by opposing teams.
An Avalanche of Injuries
The problems began early last year when cornerback Ennis Rakestraw and safety Dan Jackson were lost in the preseason. In late September, safety Daniel Thomas fractured his forearm and didn’t return to the active roster until November 9th.
In Week 6, the Lions lost Joseph at safety. He never returned to the active roster. Free agent cornerback D.J. Reed’s impressive start ended with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the next eight weeks. Upon his return in Week 12, he struggled to regain his earlier form.
Second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold battled through injuries for most of the season. He eventually wound up on IR, requiring shoulder surgery. When DB Brian Branch went down in Week 14, it felt like the final straw to derail the Lions’ postseason hopes.
Kelvin Sheppard made a heroic effort to combat the problem, assembling the infamous “Legion of Whom.” But ultimately, the group of unknown rookies and replacements couldn’t compensate for simultaneously losing Arnold and elite players Branch and Joseph.
Three Early Round Draft Prospects To Consider
Little has been said about the exact nature and extent of Joseph’s injury. Consequently, there are unsubstantiated rumors regarding whether he will be healthy enough to return. Branch will miss the early part of the season and isn’t expected back until October. Therefore, adding depth to the secondary through the draft or free agency has become a necessity for Brad Holmes. Here are three strong defensive back draft prospects for Holmes to consider:
Oregon Safety, Dillon Thieneman
Deciding to forego his senior year, Thieneman is one of the 2026 Draft’s most exciting young defensive backs. An elite defender for Oregon, he initially began his collegiate career at Purdue, where he earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2023. Upon his transfer to Oregon, Thieneman continued his impressive growth trajectory, earning First-Team All-American and All-Big Ten honors in 2025.
Draft Analyst Bucky Burke ranks Thieneman in his Top three, and NFLdraftbuzz.com has him listed as their number two safety.
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman raved, “Thieneman is the best single-high safety in the country right now. He is as much of a freak athlete as we have at any position in college football right now. His range is better than 80% of NFL safeties right now, I guarantee it. He’s that good. He’s the whole package: Speed, aggressiveness, ball skills, everything you want in a free safety.”
Combining superior athleticism, an exceptionally high football IQ, and a relentless work ethic, Thieneman is a coach’s dream. Praised for his speed and ability to cover the field as a lone safety, Thieneman offers positional versatility for both strong and free safety.
He is currently ranked number 41 on the LWOS 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. However, depending upon his Combine performance, Thieneman could be a late first-round or early second-round selection.
LSU Safety, A.J. Haulcy
Described by the Athletic’s Colton Pouncey as “a complete safety with excellent ball production, Haulcy covers a ton of ground and can handle responsibilities near the line of scrimmage, too. There are some high-level safeties available in this class, so if the Lions want to go that route, they’ll have options.”
6’0″ tall and 222 pounds, Haulcy plays primarily as a zone/ slot safety. With solid ability to process reads, Haulcy has the physicality and coverage instincts to become a plug-and-play starter in the NFL.
A native of Houston, Texas, Haulcy began his career at New Mexico and TCU before transferring to LSU for his senior year. While committing to a single school’s football program may have lacked consistency, one thing that remained constant throughout was Haulcy’s ever-improving talent and ability to generate big plays. Fine-tuning his skills at every stop along the way, Haulcy hit his stride at LSU.
Earning First Team All-State and First Team All-District honors as a senior, Haulcy was described as a ball-hawking defensive back who racked up three pick-sixes. During his 48-game collegiate career, Haulcy recorded 347 tackles (203 solo), 10 interceptions, defended 19 passes, and forced four fumbles.
Currently ranked number 45 on the LWOS 2026 NFL Draft Big Board, Haulcy fits in perfectly as a solid second-round pick for the Lions, who hold the 50th pick.
Miami Cornerback, Keionte Scott
Ranked number 54 on the LWOS 2026 NFL Draft Big Board, Scott’s draft capital took a huge leap this past season. The San Diego native wasn’t on the radar of NFL scouts until recently. But he should have been. The 6’0″ 192 lb. Auburn nickel compiled an impressive record of 54 tackles, a sack, four pass breakups, and an interception. He also showed versatility on special teams with a 74-yard punt return touchdown against Arkansas.
After a brief layover to play for Houston, Scott followed his former Auburn coach to Miami in 2025. Playing alongside Rueben Bain Jr. helped Scott elevate his own game and ignited big-play opportunities. A semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, Scott went from strength to strength, compiling 64 tackles (42 solo), 5.0 sacks, two pick-sixes, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and five PBUs.
Showing the kind of grit that defines the Detroit roster, Scott battled back from a November foot injury in time for the College Football Playoffs. His first game back against Texas A&M, he recorded 10 tackles, three TFLs, 2.0 sacks, and a forced fumble. A week later, playing Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, he earned the Felix R. McKnight Defensive MVP honors for his 72-yard pick-six and four tackles.
Described as an “outstanding run defender” by NFLdraftbuzz, Scott is considered a “natural blitzer with excellent timing.” His aggressive physicality, relentless motor, and ball-hawking traits are desirable strengths. However, his tackling skills need further development. Too often, Scott attempts to bring down a runner by grabbing his legs, which causes him to swing and miss on elite rushers. However, this can be addressed through coaching.
Based upon draft projections, Scott could go as early as the late second round, which lines up nicely for Holmes’ pick at number 50.