Why Lions Have Most Improved Secondary in NFL
This offseason, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes identified the secondary as a major area of need, and wasted no time in addressing it.
For starters, he made a variety of moves within the first week of free agency to upgrade the team's defensive backs group. He inked Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to contracts, all of whom recorded at least one interception and five passes defensed during the 2022 season.
Additionally, Sutton and Gardner-Johnson each produced career-best campaigns, recording three interceptions and six interceptions, respectively.
Then, in this past April's NFL Draft, Holmes further strengthened Detroit's secondary by selecting Alabama hybrid defensive back Brian Branch in the second round (No. 45 overall).
As a result, Pro Football Focus believes the Lions have one of the most improved secondaries in all of football, following the major portion of free agency and the draft.
As PFF explained, "While it might take some time for the new pieces to gel, there is a chance this unit can actually go from a weakness to a strength for the Lions in just one offseason."
In my opinion, Holmes ensured that the position group would be a strength with the selection of Branch.
Detroit Lions rookie defensive back Brian Branch
© Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
The former Crimson Tide defensive back excelled at nickel corner during his collegiate career. In fact, in 2022, he recorded an impressive 89.5 PFF coverage grade, while allowing 36 catches on 416 coverage snaps.
Also, the additions of Moseley and Sutton – two more-than-capable cornerbacks – should easily make up for the loss of 2020 No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah. Okudah was traded to the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason.
"Safety Tracy Walker was the highest-graded defensive back on the Lions despite only playing in their first three games. Furthermore, no Detroit cornerback earned a 65.0-plus PFF grade in 2022. The Lions' front office was aggressive in free agency to fix that unit, signing cornerbacks Moseley and Sutton, who have both earned 65.0-plus PFF grades or higher in three of their last four seasons and should represent an instant improvement for the Lions' secondary."
Detroit's safeties room is also vastly improved, with Gardner-Johnson joining forces with the aforementioned Walker and the play-making Kerby Joseph.
It all leads me to believe that the Lions will improve upon their lowly 48.8 overall PFF coverage grade from a season ago. And, in my estimation, they will end up having the most improved secondary in the league during the 2023 campaign.
