Three Strong Draft Prospects To Strengthen Detroit’s Battered Secondary

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.