The advantages and disadvantages of the Lions potentially acquiring CB Marcus Peters
Marcus Peters is a free agent, and the Detroit Lions could use some help in the secondary, but is he a good fit?
To say the least, the Detroit Lions’ secondary is struggling. Cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Jerry Jacobs have both allowed passer ratings above 101 this season; Sutton has no interceptions, while Jacobs has a team-high three but has struggled otherwise.
An intriguing cornerback option became available on Monday. Marcus Peters, a cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders, has been waived. Peters was benched during last Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs and was fired after an argument with interim head coach Antonio Pierce.
Peters was on track to earn the $1.5 million in incentives on his one-year contract with the Raiders. So they will save money by dismissing him. However, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur noted that Peters was almost cut earlier in the season, and there have been issues about his tackling effort.
The Lions got a good look at Peters in Week 8, when he had a pick-six off an ill-advised ball by Jared Goff. However, that is his only interception this season.
Pros and cons of Detroit Lions possibly bringing in Marcus Peters
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If the Lions make a claim on Peters, he’ll have to go through a lot of teams in waivers before he’s claimed by them. So it lessens their chances of landing him, but it’s also true that many of the clubs higher on the waiver wire priority list aren’t a good fit for a 30-year-old cornerback.
It’s natural to think of the Lions and Peters as a good match. He’d undoubtedly want to play for a competitive team, even if someone claims him through the waiver process. Even if he’s past his peak, the Lions could use a ballhawk like him at cornerback.
Let’s dive into some pros and cons on the idea of Peters becoming a Lion.
Pros
-71.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus this year, which would be good for second among Lions’ defensive backs
-Even with Week 12, played 91 percent of the Raiders’ defensive snaps so far this year
-11 career postseason games
– 33 career interceptions (7 touchdowns)
Cons
-12 missed tackles this season, 30.0 tackling grade from PFF
-Last multiple INT season was in 2020
-Missed entire 2021 season with a torn ACL, with a notable downturn since
-Attitude issues?
Peters is unlikely to be a starter for the Lions. Even if Jacobs, in particular, is begging to be replaced because, with Will Harris back on the bench, he has become the new tempting target for opposition quarterbacks. But he could easily replace Harris as the No. 3 cornerback, which would be a good thing.
When it comes to bringing in new players, the Lions prioritize fit over talent. There are non-talent/skill reasons Peters may not appeal to them, such as effort level (if there is such a thing).
But if they can get over that, there’s a chance the three-time Pro Bowler will join the Lions if they get a chance to sign him. It’s worth mentioning that general manager Brad Holmes worked for the Rams in 2018 and part of 2019.
