Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Despite re-signing Rashean Mathis, the Lions need to find a young corner

The Detroit Lions have once again found a short-term solution for a hole at a critical position, but they also need to still find a longer-term answer at cornerback.

The franchise was smart in re-signing cornerback Rashean Mathis after initial targets decided to go somewhere else. But at age 34, despite being rated as the No. 12 cornerback a season ago by Pro Football Focus, the Lions have to look to the future here.

And that has to include selecting a cornerback at some point during this draft. Doing this while Mathis is still a productive Lions player is critical because perhaps more than any other player at any other position within the franchise, he is like an extra coach.

The development of Darius Slay -- in part with his offseason work with Rod Woodson as well as Detroit's own coaches -- has been partly due to the consistent help and mentorship from Mathis. This is something that energizes Mathis, too. He's said multiple times during his first two years with the Lions that he felt he was brought in partially to help work with a young group, including Slay and nickel corners Bill Bentley and Nevin Lawson.

Yet even Mathis knows time is dwindling on his career. He's said often he doesn't plan on playing forever and after the 2014 season said he felt he had a couple of years left in him. Considering he signed a two-year deal, this would almost definitely be the former Pro Bowler's last contract since he turns 35 in August.

So the Lions have somewhat of a security blanket right now as they search for Mathis' eventual replacement at corner. But it is a search that must go on in earnest if they are going to have enough time to have someone ready to be in place in 2016 or 2017.

Finding a corner to eventually replace Mathis has always been a priority this season, but now they have the added comfort of knowing he won't have to start right away. He can learn for a year -- or two, depending on Mathis' play in 2015 -- behind an established veteran who has no qualms teaching a potential replacement.

In some ways, that's what he was initially doing with Slay in 2013 before Chris Houston's toe never fully healed, leading to Houston's release and Mathis returning to the Lions last season on a one-year deal. And he had some of the best play of his career in 2014, giving the Lions confidence they could once again bring Mathis back for a second encore off his original deal with Detroit.

Age catches up to everyone, though, and Mathis plays a physical position in a defense where he's going to be expected to press when he can. So Detroit has to be smart here. Mathis gives the franchise a window to groom a replacement and have him slide right in whenever he decides to finally retire.

Detroit could be doing that now, too. General manager Martin Mayhew was at Michigan State on Wednesday for its pro day. The Spartans have one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, Trae Waynes, who should be a first-round pick and would fit nicely in the Lions' scheme.

He may not be there by No. 23, though, but whether it is Waynes or someone else, it is now on the Lions to make sure they find the right one and give him enough time to learn everything he can from the veteran who knows so much.

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