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The Detroit Lions were puffing out their chests before the 2024 NFL Draft began. They nailed their picks in the first two rounds last year en route to an NFC Championship Game berth. GM Brad Holmes had some holes to fill. They lost some players in free agency and are eager to show last year wasn’t a fluke. Did the Lions do enough to keep their status as NFC North favorites?
Detroit Lions 2024 NFL Draft Class
Draft picks
- Alabama DB Terrion Arnold (No. 24 overall)
- Missouri DB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (No. 61)
- British Columbia OT Giovanni Manu (No. 126)
- Utah RB Sione Vaki (No. 132)
- LSU DT Mekhi Wingo (No. 189)
- Boston College OG Christian Mahogany (No. 210)
The Detroit Lions focused on their defensive backfield and the offensive line. They had limited picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Part of this was due to some moves to jump ahead of some teams. They traded up two times in order to nab a player.
Best Pick Of The Class: CB Terrion Arnold
It isn’t just that Arnold is the best player in the Detroit Lions draft class; it’s where they got him. Many had Terrion Arnold as a top-15 pick, but the run of quarterbacks caused the defensive backs to fall. The Lions were happy to spend some future capital to get the ultra-talented corner in the building. He has the potential to be their CB1 for years to come.
Arnold is a ball-hawking playmaker who can play in any system. With Cam Sutton being released and CJ Gardner-Johnson leaving in free agency, this is exactly the boost the secondary needed going into next season.
Most Questionable Pick In The Draft: Lack Of Edge
I didn’t have a problem with another of the picks. While giving up a future fourth-rounder to get Vaki may come back to bite them, the Detroit Lions are all about the now. All season, the knock on the Detroit defense was the lack of disruption outside of Aidan Hutchinson. The former Michigan star was great, but teams were able to focus on him and ignore everyone else.
In defense of GM Brad Holmes, this edge class was weak. Outside of the top players, everyone else was a complete unknown. There is something to be said about a GM who doesn’t massively overreach simply because there is a perceived need. Still, the Lions should have taken a young player to see what they have.
Most Interesting Pick: OT Giovanni Manu
Manu is an offensive tackle from the University of British Columbia who stands 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds. He is incredibly athletic for his size, but the knock on him is that he is very raw. This makes the Detroit Lions the perfect fit. The team doesn’t need him to play right away. They might need him to play in a few years. Detroit can get him in the building and coach him up. If he pans out, he could become a left tackle of the future. If not, the pick was still worth it.
The Detroit Lions got better in the secondary this weekend. It was their biggest area of need, and they addressed it. I question spending the capital they did in certain cases. It was also curious they did not address any defensive line needs. Still, this is an above-average draft from the Lions.
Detroit Lions Draft Grade: B+
