The Detroit Lions are being encouraged to sign a standout cornerback from the San Francisco 49ers, a player with two Super Bowl appearances and one championship win.
The Detroit Lions are among the top contenders for the Super Bowl this season, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking to improve their roster by adding fresh talent. Matt Holder from Bleacher Report has a suggestion for the Lions. In a November 18 piece highlighting each team’s key needs ahead of Week 12, he proposes that the Lions target a specific player from the San Francisco 49ers, a cornerback with two Super Bowl appearances, to help strengthen their roster.
Lions Should Pursue 49ers’ ‘Elite Starter’
In the feature, Holder argues that the Detroit Lions should seriously consider signing cornerback Charvarius Ward from the San Francisco 49ers during the 2025 free agency period. He also identifies cornerback as the Lions’ most pressing need, followed by edge rusher, offensive line depth, wide receiver depth, and left guard.
“The Lions made several moves at cornerback this offseason, acquiring Carlton Davis and using early draft picks on Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.,” Holder said. “But secondary play remains one of Detroit’s few weaknesses in 2024. With Davis set to be a free agent in the spring, the Lions should definitely explore cornerback options on the open market.”
Holder continued, “Signing Charvarius Ward would be a major win for any team with Super Bowl ambitions. He’s an elite starter on the outside, with plenty of postseason experience from his time in the Super Bowls with both the 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Additionally, Holder suggests the Lions target edge rusher JT Tuimoloau from Ohio State in the 2025 NFL Draft, calling him a perfect fit for Detroit’s defense due to his pass-rushing abilities and his alignment with the team’s aggressive run defense.
The Detroit Lions Are Looking Strong
Along with his suggestions for improving the roster, Holder also took the time to praise the current state of the Lions.
“Are the Detroit Lions the best team in the NFL right now? They very well might be,” Holder wrote. “There’s still room for improvement on defense, but when the offense is playing like it did in Sunday’s 52-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s hard to complain.”
That said, Holder doesn’t feel the Lions need to make major changes at this moment.
“Could the Lions add some veteran depth from free agency or practice squads before the postseason? Certainly, but there’s little reason for drastic moves at this stage,” he said. “The Lions continue to find ways to win, even when they’re not playing perfectly, and they addressed their biggest need at the trade deadline.”
Holder added, “While the recent addition of Za’Darius Smith won’t replace Aidan Hutchinson (due to his broken leg), he’s still a better option than most players available in mid-November.”
He also pointed out that with $62.1 million in projected cap space for 2025, the Lions are well-positioned to continue building a championship-caliber team in the offseason.
