I’ll admit right off the bat that it doesn’t feel great to talk about the football side of things just hours after Terrion Arnold was arrested and is facing multiple felonies that could result in life in prison. I don’t want to, nor am I seeking to, overlook the human side of this at all. It’s a terrible tragedy that has impacted the lives of nearly a dozen people, and the life consequences are far more important than the football ones. Regardless of how the judicial process plays out, lives are damaged forever.
This is a football website, however, and it’s hard not to think about the roster-related fallout of Arnold’s impending legal issues. We’re a long ways away from knowing how this will exactly impact Arnold’s football future, and all outcomes are possible. He could be cut, as the Lions did with Cameron Sutton a few years back. He could be suspended. He could be exonerated and continue his football career. Or he may not leave jail.
I’m not a legal expert, nor do I claim to be. But what I do know is that finding a starting cornerback opposite D.J. Reed has now become a high priority for the Detroit Lions. So today’s Question is:
Who will be the Lions’ starting cornerback opposite D.J. Reed in 2026?
My answer: Let’s run down the candidates.
Rock Ya-Sin
Ya-Sin is almost certainly the leading candidate to assume the role. Last year when Arnold and Reed were dealing with injuries, Ya-Sin came in, started six games, and played quite well. He tallied 47 tackles, nine passes defended (a career-high), and two quarterback hits. His 62.8 PFF grade was just mediocre, but it’s worth noting the website credited him with allowing just 27 catches on 50 targets for 287 yards and a passer rating of only 77.7. Given his seven years of experience, Ya-Sin would almost certainly be the safest option.
Ennis Rakestraw
Rakestraw’s young career has been marred by injury, but he likely has the highest ceilings of non-Arnold options. Drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Rakestraw was scheduled to make his first career start in 2024 before suffering an injury in warmups. Now, fully recovered from a season-ending injury in 2025, Rakestraw got some significant work with the first-team defense in the spring and appears poised to seriously challenge for an outside cornerback spot.
Terrion Arnold
Things certainly look legally bleak here, and the coaching staff said before Arnold was arrested that he would have to get healthy and then win his starting spot back. So this feels like the least-likely option, but I won’t count it out completely. We simply don’t know how things will play out. If this was just about talent, Arnold would almost certainly be the favorite for the job, but it’s not even clear if Arnold will be out of jail by the time training camp hits.
Khalil Dorsey
Mostly known for his special teams skills and excellent speed, Dorsey has started three games for the Lions over three seasons and he got some brief time with the first-team defense this spring. While the Lions certainly like him more as a special teamer than a defender, he’ll now have a chance to compete for the spot.
Nick Whiteside
Whiteside has been on and off the Lions’ roster since they signed him at the start of training camp last year. The Michigan native is most known for stepping in early in the “Legion of Whom” game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year and posting three pass breakups and an incredible 83.9 PFF grade on 40 snaps. But he only played on 11 defensive snaps outside of that game and has regularly repped with second and third teams this spring.
Roger McCreary
McCreary was a free agent signing by the Lions, and all indications seem to point to him being the team’s starting nickel cornerback. However, with the secondary situation now changed, Detroit could opt to move McCreary outside, where he has plenty of experience. The former Titans second-round pick started his career on the outside before transitioning to the slot in 2023-24. He also did play significant snaps at outside cornerback for the Rams last year during their playoff run, including a combined 48 snaps in the divisional and conference championship rounds.
The problem with moving McCreary to the outside is that it leaves a big hole at nickel cornerback. However, if they like how rookie Keith Abney is developing, they could slot him in.
Personally, I think Ya-Sin is the obvious choice right now, but it will be interesting to see how much of a competition Rakestraw can make it.
Who do you think will win the job? Who do you wantto win the job? Sound off in the comment section below.
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