The Detroit Lions took their shot at Joey Porter Jr., but the former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback is headed somewhere else. That doesn’t necessarily mean Brad Holmes is finished looking for help in Detroit’s secondary.Dallas acquired Porter from Pittsburgh for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round selection after multiple teams showed interest. The Lions had explored a potential deal for Porter, giving us a significant clue about how Holmes views his current cornerback situation.Detroit’s interest matters because this wasn’t simply outside speculation connecting a talented player to a contender. Holmes was willing to investigate adding another starting-caliber cornerback, and missing on Porter doesn’t eliminate the reasons Detroit made that call in the first place.The Lions can now turn elsewhere if Holmes remains interested in upgrading the position. There are several very different paths he could take depending on whether Detroit wants a long-term starter, a veteran rental or a low-cost gamble.Mike Payton Identifies Five Potential Lions TargetsMike Payton of A to Z Sports identified five cornerbacks who could make sense for Detroit following the Porter trade. His list includes Zyon McCollum, Riley Moss, Donte Jackson, Marlon Humphrey and Cam Taylor-Britt.It’s an intriguing collection because those five players would represent dramatically different types of acquisitions. McCollum and Moss could potentially become pieces beyond 2026, Jackson offers veteran experience, Humphrey would represent an aggressive win-now move, and Taylor-Britt could be the inexpensive change-of-scenery gamble.There is an important distinction to make before going any further. None of these five players has been reported as an active Lions trade target, so they should be viewed as potential fits rather than players Holmes is known to be pursuing.Still, Detroit’s interest in Porter changes the conversation surrounding potential cornerback trades. Holmes has already demonstrated that he is at least willing to explore options outside the organization.Zyon McCollum Would Be Much More Than a RentalIf Detroit wants another young outside corner rather than a temporary fix, Zyon McCollum is one of the most interesting possibilities. The 27-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback stands 6-foot-2 and has developed into an established NFL starter.McCollum would also require considerably more commitment than a typical in-season acquisition. He signed a three-year, $48 million extension with Tampa Bay, so acquiring him would mean bringing a significant contract onto Detroit’s books beyond the current season.That long-term commitment is also part of the appeal. Instead of spending draft capital on a player who could leave after the season, Detroit could potentially pair McCollum with D.J. Reed and create some stability on the outside.Holmes would have to decide whether that stability is worth the financial investment and whatever Tampa Bay would demand in
