Following the Lions’ release of Terrion Arnold, Detroit suddenly has significant playing time available in the defensive backfield, and Solak believes McCreary is in an ideal position to capitalize.
Roger McCreary Could Be Ready for a Bounce-Back Season
In his annual list of breakout candidates for every NFL team, Solak pointed to McCreary as a player who could emerge as an impact contributor in Detroit’s defense.
With Arnold no longer on the roster, the Lions have open competition at both outside cornerback and nickel corner. McCreary joins Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and rookie Keith Abney II among the players competing for those snaps.
Solak believes McCreary has the experience and versatility to separate himself.
“McCreary was a rookie starter — and a productive one at that — for the Titans in 2022. He can play inside and out, though his lack of length makes him better suited for slot work (and will likely always limit his on-ball production).”
A Familiar Fit in Detroit’s Defense
One of the biggest reasons Solak is optimistic about McCreary is how well his skill set matches Detroit’s defensive philosophy.
He praised the former Titans defensive back for his instincts in zone coverage, physicality against the run, and ability to hold up in man coverage.
Solak also compared McCreary’s game to former Lions defensive back Amik Robertson, who became an important piece of Detroit’s defense before departing in free agency this offseason.
“Still, he’s smart in zone coverage, physical enough to survive against the run and plenty sticky when asked to play man-to-man. Much of his game is similar to that of Amik Robertson, who thrived in Detroit before signing a solid deal in Washington this past offseason. I’m buying a McCreary bounceback.”
Opportunity Is Knocking
The Lions acquired McCreary with the hope that he could strengthen the secondary, but few expected the opportunity to arrive this quickly.
Now, with Arnold gone and multiple cornerback jobs up for grabs, McCreary has a legitimate chance to become a key contributor in Kelvin Sheppard’s defense.
Training camp is expected to feature one of the team’s most competitive position battles, and if Solak’s prediction proves accurate, McCreary could emerge as one of Detroit’s biggest surprises during the 2026 season.
For a Lions defense looking to take another step forward, a breakout year from McCreary would be a welcome development.
