In 2024, the Lions had arguably the best starting secondary duo<\/a> in the NFL with Pro Bowlers Brian Branch<\/span><\/a> <\/b>and Kerby Joseph<\/span><\/a>. The pair accounted for 125 solo tackles, 13 interceptions, one sack, 16 pass defenses, a forced fumble, and a pick-six.<\/p>\r\n A year later, the Lions\u2019 secondary was decimated by an avalanche of injuries. Instead of Detroit\u2019s secondary being a point of defensive strength, it became a weakness to be exploited over and over again by opposing teams.<\/p>\r\n The problems began early last year when cornerback Ennis Rakestraw<\/span><\/a> and safety Dan Jackson were lost in the preseason. In late September, safety Daniel Thomas<\/span><\/a> fractured his forearm and didn\u2019t return to the active roster until November 9th. \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\r\n In Week 6, the Lions lost Joseph at safety. He never returned to the active roster. Free agent cornerback D.J. Reed\u2019s 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.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold<\/span><\/a> battled through injuries for most of the season. He eventually wound up on IR, requiring shoulder surgery. When DB Brian Branch<\/span><\/a> went down in Week 14, it felt like the final straw to derail the Lions\u2019 postseason hopes. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Kelvin Sheppard<\/a><\/span> made a heroic effort to combat the problem, assembling the infamous \u201cLegion of Whom.\u201d<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 <\/span>But ultimately, the group of unknown rookies and replacements couldn\u2019t compensate for simultaneously losing Arnold and elite players Branch and Joseph. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n 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<\/span><\/a>. Here are three strong defensive back draft prospects for Holmes to consider:<\/p>\r\n Deciding to forego his senior year, Thieneman is one of the 2026 Draft\u2019s 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. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Draft Analyst Bucky Burke ranks Thieneman in his Top three, and NFLdraftbuzz.com<\/span><\/a> has him listed as their number two safety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n PFF\u2019s Dalton Wasserman raved,<\/a> \u201cThieneman 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\u2019s that good. He\u2019s the whole package: Speed, aggressiveness, ball skills, everything you want in a free safety.\u201d<\/p>\r\n 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. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n He is currently <\/span>ranked number 41 on the LWOS 2026 NFL Draft Big Board.<\/a>\u00a0 However, depending upon his Combine performance, Thieneman could be a late first-round or early second-round selection. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Described by the Athletic’s<\/a> Colton Pouncey as “a complete safety with excellent ball production, Haulcy covers a ton of ground and can handle responsibilities near the line of scrimmage, too. There are some high-level safeties available in this class, so if the Lions want to go that route, they\u2019ll have options.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n 6’0″ tall and 222 pounds, Haulcy plays primarily as a zone\/ slot safety. With solid ability to process reads, Haulcy has the physicality and coverage instincts to become a plug-and-play starter in the NFL.<\/span><\/p>\r\n A native of Houston, Texas, Haulcy began his career at New Mexico and TCU before transferring to LSU for his senior year. While committing to a single school’s football program may have lacked consistency, one thing that remained constant throughout was Haulcy’s ever-improving talent and ability to generate big plays. Fine-tuning his skills at every stop along the way, Haulcy hit his stride at LSU.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Earning First Team All-State and First Team All-District honors as a senior, Haulcy was described as a ball-hawking defensive back who racked up three pick-sixes.\u00a0<\/span>During his 48-game collegiate career, Haulcy <\/span>recorded 347 tackles (203 solo), 10 interceptions, defended 19 passes, and forced four fumbles. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Currently <\/span>ranked number 45 on the LWOS 2026 NFL Draft Big Board,\u00a0<\/a>Haulcy fits in perfectly as a solid second-round pick for the Lions, who hold the 50th pick. \u00a0<\/p>\r\nAn Avalanche of Injuries\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/h3>\r\n
Three Early Round Draft Prospects To Consider\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\r\n
Oregon Safety, Dillon Thieneman\u00a0<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/02\/USATSI_27422516-300x214.jpg\")
LSU Safety, A.J. Haulcy<\/a><\/h3>\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/02\/USATSI_28042163-300x281.jpg\")
Miami Cornerback, Keionte Scott\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\r\n