The NFL Draft of 2024 is currently in the past. From April 25 to April 27, there was a frenzy of picks that resulted in the selection of 257 players to join the NFL.
Here is our comprehensive overview of the Detroit Lions draft, along with analysis of each choice the team made over the weekend and a close look at their first pick.
It’s not too late to obtain the 2024 NFL Draft Guide, which offers extensive scouting reports, draft grades, offseason reports, exclusive advanced statistics, PFF grades, and much more, if you want to learn more about the players your favorite club selected.
Terrion Arnold, an Alabama cornerback ranked 14th on the PFF big board, was acquired by Detroit via a trade up. Arnold plays with a bold approach and is an alpha presence in the secondary. In 2023, he set a conference record with a run-defense rating of 90.6 PFF, besting all other SEC cornerbacks in interceptions and pass breakups. The addition of Arnold, Carlton Davis, and Amik Robertson to Detroit’s cornerback room has resulted in a formal revamp.
Rakestraw: The Lions are still working to improve their defense, which finished 2023 rated 30th in coverage grade. Physical cornerback Rakestraw is ranked 46th on the PFF big board and is an excellent zone cover specialist. In 2023, he achieved an 85.2 PFF zone coverage grade. In only one offseason, the Lions entirely renovated their cornerback room.
Manu—Manu garnered a lot of attention in the closing weeks before the draft, but he isn’t listed on the PFF big board since we don’t have any statistics on him. At 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds, he ran a 40-yard sprint in 4.96 seconds.
Vaki: One of the most athletic athletes available in the 2024 NFL Draft, Vaki will win over Lions supporters. Although he was a running back and safety at Utah, he excels in covering. Vaki is a powerful puncher, but don’t expect him to produce spectacular plays with the football too frequently. He matches Aaron Glenn’s mindset in the Motor City and is a solid tackler in run defense.
Wingo—Wingo is a decent athlete for his stature, and here is a perfect place to grab him. Among defensive linemen in the SEC, he has the top run-defense grade (84.9) since 2022. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him grow into a capable rotational player in Detroit.
Mahogany – Mahogany dropped farther than anticipated, which gave the Lions a chance to score a bit of a bargain in this sixth round. In 711 pass-blocking snaps over the previous three seasons, he has only allowed one sack and seven total quarterback pressures.
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