The Lions joined the Eagles in going cornerback-cornerback to start the draft. Beyond slot corner Brian Branch, this will effectively complete a Detroit overhaul at the position.
Terrion Arnold began the Lions’ CB-CB first two rounds, with Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. going to Detroit a day after the team traded up for the Alabama-developed cover man. In reuniting Branch and Arnold, the Lions needed to move up the board. The team’s intel probably involved a lurking division rival.
Arnold’s camp viewed the Packers as a team squarely on the radar to draft the corner at No. 25, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The Packers are believed to have rated Arnold highly going into Round 1. The Lions climbed up five spots (via the Cowboys) to draft Arnold at No. 24, completing an interesting CB revamp at the position.
Coverage issues created some turnover going into the offseason, and the Lions had trade acquisition Carlton Davis on track to team with Cameron Sutton. But Sutton’s domestic violence arrest — and delay turning himself in — led to the Lions cutting bait on the 2023 free agency pickup. The team was still eyeing corners in the wake of that arrest, as it did not tender Jerry Jacobs as an RFA. The team now looks deep at the position, with Davis, Branch, Arnold and Rakestraw joining the likes of Kindle Vildor, Amik Robertson and Emmanuel Moseley. Given Moseley’s two ACL tears since October 2022, the ex-49ers mainstay is more flier than surefire contributor at this point. It cost the Lions far less to sign him this year than last.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst came into this draft 7-for-8 in going defense with first-round picks, with the 2020 Jordan Love trade-up the exception. Prior to Gutekunst’s 2018 move into the GM chair, the Pack had not chosen an offensive player in the first round since 2011. Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes were part of Gutekunst’s draft run, with the latter — who did not see his fifth-year option picked up — running into injury trouble early in his career. The Packers also traded Rasul Douglas to the Bills at last year’s deadline.
Green Bay, which did not join Detroit in hosting Arnold on a “30” visit, did not draft a corner until Round 7 (Kalen King). The team chose tackle Jordan Morgan at No. 25. Discussing a trade with the Seahawks for No. 16, the Packers did not make an offer for that pick. It cost the Lions No. 73 overall and a 2025 seventh-rounder to move from No. 29 to No. 24. They will bet on Arnold being worth the package sent to Dallas.
The Lions did not view it as likely Arnold would still be there by No. 24, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, but the team is believed to have put together trade parameters involving another player. That helped accelerate Detroit’s move up the board. Presumably viewing it as unlikely Arnold would make it past the Eagles at No. 22, the Lions observed Philly draft Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell. Both teams benefited from the draft not producing a defensive pick until No. 15. As for the player the Lions were previously targeting with a trade-up maneuver, Breer indicates Brad Holmes and Co. were eyeing Mizzou’s Darius Robinson.
It is not clear if the Lions and Cowboys had a trade worked out prior to Arnold remaining on the board, but the Lions were apparently ready to trade up for multiple defenders in this class. A versatile defensive lineman, Robinson ended up going to the Cardinals at No. 27.
I think it works out for the Lions as Arnold fits their system like a glove. Plus, as Holmes said, he was #1 on their list. Pretty sweet they got their #1 guy at 24.