NEWSLETTER
The Detroit Lions traded up in the first round to land talented cornerback Terrion Arnold to lead its 2024 draft class. How did general manager Brad Holmes perform this year? Let’s grade his draft and break down the players the Lions selected.
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Lions Draft Grade: B+
Overall, it looks like this class has the potential to be strong for the Lions. They address glaring needs at cornerback by taking Terrion Arnold in round one and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in round 2. Arnold is looking like an absolute steal as he was listed as a top-15 prospect on most boards and a top-2 cornerback.
We give the Lions a B+ for adding cornerback depth and adding a few potential breakout players in round 6. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo is a great athlete and showed flashes of dominance at LSU. He was ranked as a top 100 player on most boards so it’s great value getting him at no. 189. Guard Christian Mahogany is a solid run blocker and a potential anchor in pass protection.
| Round | Selection |
|---|---|
| Rd. 1, Pick 24 | Terrion Arnold, CB | Alabama |
| Rd. 2, Pick 61 | Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB | Missouri |
| Rd. 4, Pick 128 | Giovanni Manu, OT | British Columbia |
| Rd. 4, Pick 132 | Sione Vaki, RB | Utah |
| Rd. 6, Pick 189 | Mekhi Wingo, DT | LSU |
| Rd. 6, Pick 210 | Christian Mahogany, G | Boston College |
What to Like: Arnold, Rakestraw Jr. Boost Secondary
Terrion Arnold can do everything and has the length to be an elite cornerback at the next level. Moving up to get him at no. 24 is looking like one of the biggest steals of the draft. Going with Rakestraw Jr. with their next pick seems odd considering they’ve never drafted corners with their first two picks, but it addresses a huge need for Detroit.
The pass defense was near the bottom of the league in yards and touchdowns. Adding these two players to team up with Brian Branch should bring some stability to the position long-term.
Holmes Takes Risk Giving up 2025 Third Rounder
Now, here come the questions. It seems risky for Holmes to give up a third-rounder to get Giovanni Manu in the fourth round. Manu is a project and very raw. He doesn’t have much experience playing against high-level competition at British Columbia. The good news? He’s a monster with long arms and solid quickness who has a huge upside.
The Lions also went with Sione Vaki from Utah in the fourth round. Vaki played some running back and safety at Utah but wasn’t excellent at either. He ran one of the slowest 40-yard dashes amongst safeties at the combine and is looking like a special teams player early on. It’s hard to doubt Holmes, but this pick seemed like a major reach.
Should Holmes Have Taken a WR on Day 3?
One of the Lions’ needs heading into the draft was at wide receiver. The group needs to add a playmaker to complement Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Some fans would have liked to see Holmes take a shot at a wide receiver instead of taking Vaki. Holmes seems to trust his depth at the skill positions as he focused on offensive linemen and the secondary in 2024.
Holmes has struck gold in the past even when the picks have seemed unconventional. How will the 2024 NFL Draft class fare for the Lions? The real question remains. Will it be enough to get them back to the NFC Championship game or potentially to the Super Bowl?
