The Detroit Lions may have a difficult roster decision approaching at cornerback, and one potential outcome would be disappointing for a player the team signed just months ago.
According to a recent report, the Lions could consider releasing cornerback Roger McCreary despite signing him to a one-year, $1.4 million contract in free agency. McCreary has reportedly struggled to make the impact Detroit expected during training camp, opening the door for the team to move on before the regular season.
That would be a surprising development considering why the Lions pursued McCreary in the first place.
Detroit signed the former Tennessee Titans cornerback after he spent part of the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams acquired McCreary from Tennessee at the trade deadline, sending a conditional fifth-round pick to the Titans in exchange for McCreary and a conditional sixth-rounder.
The Lions were clearly betting on his experience and versatility. McCreary had been a regular nickel corner throughout his NFL career, giving Detroit another option in the slot and providing valuable depth in a secondary that needed competition.
But his 2025 season was a step backward.
McCreary allowed a 110.2 passer rating in 14 games last season, according to the report. That’s a significant decline from 2023, when he allowed an 85.3 passer rating and appeared to establish himself as a reliable defensive back.
Now, his training-camp performance has reportedly created another concern.
The Lions already have competition developing at the position. Rookie cornerback Nick Whiteside has reportedly been one of the team’s biggest training-camp winners, climbing the depth chart and earning first-team opportunities. Meanwhile, Ennis Rakestraw has reportedly lost ground during camp.
That’s what makes McCreary’s situation particularly interesting.
Detroit doesn’t necessarily need to move on from him. His experience as a starting nickel corner could still be valuable over the course of a long NFL season. Even if McCreary isn’t the same player he was in 2023, there is an argument that his previous production makes him worth keeping around.
The financial side of the situation, however, makes a release easier to understand.
Because McCreary signed only a one-year deal worth $1.4 million, Detroit wouldn’t be taking on a significant financial burden by cutting him. That gives the Lions flexibility to prioritize a younger player if they believe Whiteside or another cornerback can provide comparable production.
Still, releasing McCreary now would feel like a disappointing outcome.
The Lions brought him in specifically to strengthen their secondary and provide dependable competition in the slot. Losing that investment before the season even begins would mean Detroit’s plan for the position hasn’t worked as expected.
At the same time, roster decisions are ultimately about performance rather than reputation or sunk costs. If McCreary cannot separate himself from the competition, Detroit has every reason to consider its alternatives.
For now, the most important thing is how he responds during the remaining preseason and training-camp opportunities. If McCreary can rediscover the form that made him valuable earlier in his career, the Lions may have little reason to let him go.
If his struggles continue, though, Detroit could make the difficult decision to move on—and turn the former Titans and Rams cornerback into one of the more surprising cuts of the summer.
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