Next up in the series of draft prospects of potential intrigue for the Detroit Lions in the 2026 NFL Draft are the cornerbacks. More cornerbacks are selected each year than any other position, on average. The Lions haven’t drafted a corner since using the first two picks in 2024 on CBs Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw. 

While Detroit has a relatively strong CB room right now, there is certainly room to add more talent to the mix. With that in mind, here is a cornerback prospect for Detroit to consider in every round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

An offensive tackle for every round

An interior OL prospect for every round

An off-ball LB for every round

An EDGE prospect for every round

A safety prospect for every round

No, the Lions aren’t going to draft a cornerback in each round. The purpose here is to demonstrate which types of talents look to be available for Lions GM Brad Holmes in each of the draft’s seven rounds. They are done with an eye toward scheme and culture fit for Detroit. At cornerback, that means man coverage, physicality and run defense. This is not a recommendation or endorsement of any of the players, with what appears to be realistic draft projection ranges with about two weeks to go until the 2026 NFL Draft. 

The Lions currently don’t have a third-round pick, but there is still a third-round candidate listed. As Holmes has repeatedly shown, he’s not afraid to go get his man in draft-day trades.  

State of the Position

If the team ever had its full stable of cornerbacks all healthy at the same time, the Lions would have enviable depth and talent. Holmes and the Lions have invested heavily in the position throughout their years in Detroit, both in free agency and the Draft. 

Outside starters D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold showed they can be a special combo early in 2025. A 2024 first-rounder, Arnold showed better consistency and penalty avoidance before a shoulder injury really impacted his play and ultimately ended his season after just eight games. Arnold is still vulnerable to high-end wideouts who can beat him off the line, but he’s emerged–again, when healthy–as a capable starting outside CB. 

Reed was the team’s top free agent acquisition in 2025, and he was well on his way to validating the money spent until a hamstring injury in Week 4 sidelined him for almost two months. The plucky Reed wasn’t the same when he returned. During his Jets tenure, Reed was rock-solid and consistent, and a return to that form will certainly help out Detroit in 2026. 

There is a new slot, with Amik Robertson out via free agency and Roger McCreary in. McCreary offers more size than Robertson on the inside, though he’s a different style of player. He’s more of a smooth, route-matching cover guy than Robertson, who showed more derring-do and physicality in his slot work. 

Top reserve outside CB Rock Ya-Sin is back for a second season. The veteran performed quite well in injury-related starting duty a year ago, and his press-man style and chippiness in the run game are definitely welcomed back. The Lions have seen very little of Ennis Rakestraw since selecting him in the second round of 2024, thanks to a series of injuries. He missed all of 2025, but is on track to be ready to try and salvage his fledgling career in 2026. At Missouri, Rakestraw was at his best playing press-man and off-man on the outside against bigger WRs, though the Lions have tried him more in the slot when he’s been healthy. 

UFL refugee Nick Whiteside showed promise in the summer of 2025 and didn’t look lost in a late-season trial as an injury-related sub. Khalil Dorsey is back for another season in Detroit, albeit almost exclusively for his special teams ability. 

In addition, both Christian Izien and Avonte Maddox have real NFL experience playing cornerback. The vets are nominally safeties, but their versatility serves them, and the Lions, well in reserve capacities. 

First round: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

McCoy spent his first college season at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee. His 2024 game tape with the Volunteers is elite, but there are nagging questions about an injury and inexperience. His man-coverage skills and ball production are precisely what the Lions have sought in outside CBs.

Pros

–Outstanding footwork and route anticipation in man coverage

–Dynamic athleticism; was a track jumper in HS

–Tested with elite speed and burst 

–Aggressive ball skills; “my ball” mentality

–Uses his length well to attack the ball in the air

–Consistently stays in proper leverage 

–Won’t turn 21 until August

Cons

–Not very physical in coverage; goes around traffic more than through

–Sorely lacks tackling power and pop behind his pads

–Plays the QB more than the WR at times

–Missed all of 2025 and into 2026 with a 2024 ACL tear

–Has just one year of high-end film, wasn’t a standout at Oregon State

I’d be remiss to not mention Clemson’s Aveion Terrell here. He’s also a very good Lions fit and a likely first-round prospect. Terrell isn’t as big or flashy, but he has a broader volume of impressive college coverage tape than McCoy. 

Second round: Chris Johnson, San Diego State

The 6-0, 193-pound Johnson seems unlikely to make it to pick No. 50, but he’s an obvious fit for the Lions with his playing style and ball skills. He reminds me more than a little of Ennis Rakestraw at Missouri, though with a clean bill of health. 

Pros

–Long, outside-only CB with excellent coverage instincts

–Plays the ball in the air exceedingly well

–Above-average closing burst with excellent body control

–Attacks the ball as a tackler to force fumbles

–Navigates through traffic well in man coverage

–Good understanding of leverage and positioning

–Not shy in attacking the run

–Earned SDSU’s special teams award

Cons

–Underpowered as a tackler and presser

–Short arms for his height make tackling and high-pointing tougher

–Doesn’t have a chase gear in the run game or deep coverage

–Quicker-than-fast route runners gave him trouble

–Has some pregnant pauses in working to the inside

Third round: Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State

A big, physical press-man corner who cleaned up his game as a senior, Igbinosun offers over 50 college starts in a pro-friendly defense for the Buckeyes. For a player likely to be drafted in the second half of Day 2, the 6-2 Igbinosun is a major boom/bust candidate. 

Pros

–Size, length and strength are optimal for Detroit’s man-heavy coverage

–Experienced presser with strong hands and rerouting ability

–Impressive tackler and run defender, doesn’t stay blocked

–Has the long speed to carry vertical receivers

–Good understanding of when to attack forward in zone

–Might be best-in-class at blowing up screens and RB swing passes

Cons

–Serially guilty of holding and illegal contact in man coverage

–Stiffer than expected and slow into his closing burst

–Oddly terrible at finding the ball in the air

–Loses track of his coverage mark when looking back for the ball

–Inconsistent in keeping his designed leverage responsibilities

Fourth round: Charles Demmings, Stephen F Austin

A fourth-round projection in my recent Lions Mock Draft 3.0, Demmings is a definite Grit Fit for Detroit. The FCS standout really helped himself at the Senior Bowl. 

Pros 

–NFL build with length (6-1/193) and athleticism

–Major league ball skills and proven production

–Active feet and decent instincts in man coverage

–Press technique is developed and powerful

–Above-average closing burst with no wasted motion

–Special teams captain at SFA

Cons

–More of a shover/diver than a wrap-up tackler

–Eye discipline still needs honing; peeks at the QB a bit too much

–Too easily blocked in the run game and after the catch

–Very limited exposure vs NFL-caliber talent 

Fifth round: Ephesians Prysock, Washington

Prysock stands out for his unique name and his stature. He’s every bit of 6-foot-3 and just under 200 pounds. Prysock spent two years at Arizona before transferring to Washington, where his coverage skills progressed nicely. 

Pros

–Consistently displays innate coverage instincts and anticipation in both zone and man

–Can explode out of his backpedal and stays in phase nicely for a taller CB

–Has a nice jam and uses his long arms well to steer initial WR movement

–Showed improvement at getting off blocks and holding an edge in run game

–Lithe athlete for a tall guy, not limited in change of direction

–Good effort and fight in run defense

–Considerable special teams experience on all units

Cons

–Sorely lacks ball skills and ball awareness in coverage

–Will misfire his hands and get beat clean off the release at times

–Guilty of some egregious holding penalties when beaten initially; 11 DPI/holding penalties in two years at Washington

–Better effort than results in run D and tackling, which is inconsistent

Sixth round: Domani Jackson, Alabama

Jackson was once an elite 5-star recruit with world-class speed. Two years at USC, two more at Alabama showed flashes of that high potential but a lot more disappointment in the 6-foot-1, 194-pound Jackson. Still, he’s got the athletic profile and plaing attitude that the Lions find appealing. 

Pros

–High-end athleticism with blazing speed and acceleration

–Closes quickly on the ball/carrier

–Good length and leverage to the sideline

–Not afraid to hit or get physical

–Has the speed to carry vertical routes

–Tackling form improved in 2025

Cons

–Benched at Alabama for poor play

–Undeveloped footwork off the line

–Loses confidence in himself if beaten

–Often looks like a track star playing football

Seventh round: Andre Fuller, Toledo

Fuller was one of those happy discoveries that come about when watching another player on the same team. Every time I flipped on Toledo to watch safety Emmanuel McNeill-Warren (a 1st round talent), this No. 3 guy in a Rockers uniform kept standing out. That’s Fuller, a 6-1, 200-pound, scheme-diverse corner who started out playing safety at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

Pros

–Good use of leverage and shading in his coverage

–Strong jam and quick transition off it with his hips and feet

–Aggressive run defender who hits and tackles like a safety

–Positional flexibility as a reserve DB

–Considerable special teams experience

–Locates the ball in the air pretty well

Cons

–Lacks recovery speed and quickness when initially beaten

–Doesn’t always play to his size as a boundary corner

–Missed the 2024 season with a core muscle injury and surgery

–Lacks ball production; just 1 INT and 16 PDs (12 in 2025) in 41 games at Toledo

–Needs to learn to let go when he grabs

–Didn’t see a lot of future NFL passing game talent in 5 college seasons

–24 years old, played more safety than CB in college