The Detroit Lions are adding a late addition to their secondary.
Prior to its August 21 practice, the team announced the signing of Rachad Wildgoose, a cornerback who formerly played for the New York Jets and Washington Commanders and started three games in 2022.
According to USA Today’s Jeff Risdon, the deal came immediately before Detroit’s final offseason session and helped cover a roster space.
Rachad Wildgoose Spent Time in NFL, UFL
The 24-year-old Wildgoose entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2021, however he missed the team’s final roster cut and was acquired by the New York Jets. He appeared in 20 games throughout two NFL seasons before joining the Birmingham Stallions for the recently concluded UFL season.
As Risdon mentioned, the Lions had recently made some moves to improve their secondary and have a vacant roster space to sign Wildgoose.
“[Wildgoose] joins a Lions secondary that has also added Javelin Guidry and Essang Bassey in the last few days,” Risdon said. “Detroit had an opening on the 90-man roster after placing WR Tre’Quan Smith and LB Malik Jefferson on I.R.”
Lions sign CB Rachad Wildgoose. https://t.co/m8b5QqFb7R
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 21, 2024
It was unclear whether Wildgoose would suit up for the team’s final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 24.
Lions Have New-Look Secondary for 2024
This summer, the Lions have already made many major upgrades to their secondary, using their first-round draft pick on Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold and then selecting Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with their second-round pick.
The Lions also acquired cornerback Carlton Davis III in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, exchanging a 2024 third-round draft pick for the veteran defensive back.
The team re-signed veteran cornerback Emmanuel Moseley after his 2023 season ended in his first game back from a ruptured ACL, but Moseley sustained a torn pectoral and is projected to miss the majority of the 2024 season.
The signings could leave Wildgoose fighting for a spot on the practice squad, but his experience playing special teams with the Commanders this season could help him get on the roster.
According to SI.com’s Christian Booher, the secondary could under substantial pressure to improve after struggling last year.
“The Lions’ pass defense was abysmal in 2023,” Booher stated. “The unit ended 29th in passing yards allowed, and top-tier wideouts like Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb exposed it late in the season.
“While the staff has improved, there is now demand on newcomers to produce at a high level right away. Detroit will need to make significant progress in this area as it seeks a Super Bowl berth in 2024.”
Booher noted that the Lions didn’t have much of their depth chart set in stone to begin the offseason, giving some of the newcomers a chance to win spots in the starting lineup.
“With all the new faces in the secondary, essentially the entire unit is up for grabs,” he noted. “Davis is the front-runner for the top cornerback position, with Arnold appearing to be the choice to start opposite him. However, the Lions have operated as a meritocracy, thus each position must be earned.”