The Detroit Lions spent significant resources on their cornerbacks room this offseason, adding more talent and versatility. And, with those additions, the Lions have apparently added more confidence to the group, too.
Ahead of the Lions' final session of organized team activities on Tuesday, Detroit's linebackers coach, Kelvin Sheppard, revealed that the confidence level of the Lions' cornerbacks is the likes of which he hasn't seen before.
"Being on the practice field, hearing corners talking trash out the huddle saying, 'I got this guy and it's nothing you gonna do about it,'" Sheppard said, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. "I haven't been around that since I've been here and I've rarely been around it in the league. It's rare you get guys like that — that walk, talk and act with that type of confidence — and we have multiple of them right now."
Coming from a guy like Sheppard who played in 107 games over eight seasons in the league, that's a notable comment and shows a big change at the position.
On top of adding Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Lions signed Amik Robertson in free agency and traded for Carlton Davis. Arnold and Davis in particular have shown no shortage of confidence this offseason.
"I'm about to just lock s--- up," Davis said in May. "Excuse my French. I'm not going to lie. I'm about to lock No. 1 receivers up, get my hands on some balls and give the ball back to our offense and play physical and bring energy. You'll see."
"I'm a shutdown corner," Arnold said after being drafted. "I'm coming in to go at receiver ones at the rip. I feel like I was already coming in with a chip on my shoulder just based on the draft and how everything was going.
"Brad traded up to get me and that means a lot to me," Arnold added. "So, I'm going to go out there and show why he did it."
While it's certainly great to have confidence, the Lions cornerbacks are going to have to back it up with their play on the field or else it doesn't mean anything. But if they can, the Lions' pass defense will be much-improved in 2024.
