On March 26, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell informed reporters at the annual league conference in Orlando, Florida, that the team has ‘urgency’ to sign another cornerback.
Campbell stated that the Lions are looking into another free agent signing and potential draft prospects. However, AtoZ Sports’ Mike Payton indicated that the Lions consider dealing for 2022 All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
On March 26, Payton recommended that the Lions trade the No. 29 overall pick in the 2024 first round and a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for Surtain and the No. 147 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
“The Broncos are in a place where they are about to embark on a rebuild and with Surtain’s deal almost up, they would have to pick up his very expensive fifth year option and then sign him to new lucrative contract after that,” Payton said in a statement. “They’d have to do all of that while presumably looking for a quarterback because they’re out of reach of the top prospects in this year’s draft.”
“The Lions can come in and offer the Broncos a chance to relieve themselves from having to make a big money offer to Surtain very soon and give them more assets to use in a trade up scenario for this years draft.”
Surtain was named first-team All-Pro by the Broncos during his second season in 2022. Surtain was not selected to the All-Pro team in 2023, but he did make his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.
Surtain has 69 total tackles, 12 pass defenses, and one interception in 17 games in 2023. He has 36 pass defenses and 7 interceptions in 50 NFL games.
How Patrick Surtain II Might Fit With the Lions
The Lions have already added cornerbacks this summer. They signed Amik Robertson as a free agent and traded for Carlton Davis. The Lions have also re-signed Khalil Dorsey and Emmanuel Mosley.
However, the Lions are still in the market for a cornerback after releasing Cameron Sutton on March 21. On March 20, the Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office issued a release stating that Sutton was the focus of a police search.
Sutton led the Lions defense in snaps played in 2023.
However, adding Surtain would more than compensate for Sutton’s loss. Surtain played more snaps for the Broncos than Sutton and was selected to his second Pro Bowl in a row. Although Sutton was Detroit’s top cornerback in 2023, he struggled to maintain consistency.
Surtain and Davis would become one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL. Detroit’s pass defense, which was ranked 27th in the NFL last season, is likely to improve significantly.
With Surtain on the roster, Robertson and Dorsey might provide excellent depth. Moseley may as well after he has fully recovered from his second torn ACL.
Detroit’s starting cornerbacks, Surtain and Davis, appear to be promising prospects for the Lions. However, it would come at a cost.
The Lions previously traded one of their third-round picks in the 2024 draft to get Davis. According to Payton’s suggestion, the team would then relinquish the No. 29 overall pick to Surtain.
Although the move would solidify Detroit’s cornerback position, it would leave the Lions with only two picks among the top 163 this year. They also wouldn’t have a first-round pick.
Trading for Surtain would also leave the Lions’ cornerback situation uncertain after 2024. Davis has an expiring contract, and Surtain, as Payton said, is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract.
To keep the potentially top cornerback combo in Detroit for more than one season, the Lions would need to re-sign Davis and pick up Surtain’s fifth-year option.
To avoid giving up draft capital to sign a cornerback on an expiring contract, the Lions may prefer to look for a cornerback in free agency or the draft. Several intriguing veteran alternatives remain available in free agency, including Stephon Gilmore, Steven Nelson, and Adoree’ Jackson.
The Lions may possibly seek a cornerback in the first round of the draft. He would not have as much immediate upside as Surtain, but he would be on a reasonable contract through the 2027 season.
