To begin the draft, the Lions and Eagles went cornerback-cornerback. This effectively completes Detroit’s rebuild at slot corner, beyond Brian Branch.
Terrion Arnold started the Lions’ CB-CB draft, then the next day, Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was selected by Detroit, following the team’s move up for the cover man from Alabama. Moving up the board was necessary for the Lions to reunite Branch and Arnold. According to the team’s intelligence, a division rival was likely hiding.
To begin the draft, the Lions and Eagles went cornerback-cornerback. This effectively completes Detroit’s rebuild at slot corner, beyond Brian Branch.
Terrion Arnold started the Lions’ CB-CB draft, then the next day, Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was selected by Detroit, following the team’s move up for the cover man from Alabama. Moving up the board was necessary for the Lions to reunite Branch and Arnold. According to the team’s intelligence, a division rival was likely hiding.
As noted by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Arnold’s camp saw the Packers as a team that should be seriously considered to select the corner at No. 25. Arnold was reportedly viewed highly by the Packers prior to Round 1. Arnold was selected by the Lions at No. 24, capping an intriguing overhaul of the position at wide receiver that involved a five-spot jump (via the Cowboys).
Going into the offseason, there was considerable turnover due to coverage concerns, but the Lions had trade acquisition Carlton Davis set up to play alongside Cameron Sutton. But, Sutton’s arrest for domestic abuse and his subsequent refusal to surrender himself in caused the Lions to pull the trigger on their 2023 free agency acquisition. Following that arrest, the team continued to look for ways to save costs because it declined to tender Jerry Jacobs as an RFA. With Davis, Branch, Arnold, and Rakestraw joining players like Kindle Vildor, Amik Robertson, and Emmanuel Moseley, the team is now taking a close look at the position. Considering that Moseley has suffered two ACL tears since October 2022, the former 49ers mainstay is currently more of a gambler than a reliable player. The Lions paid a lot less to sign him this season than.
With the exception of the 2020 Jordan Love trade-up, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst entered this draft 7-for-8 in selecting defense with first-round selections. Since 2011, the Pack had not selected an offensive player in the first round before Gutekunst took over as general manager in 2018. Gutekunst’s draft run included Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, the latter of whom had early career injury issues and did not see his fifth-year option picked up. At the deadline of the previous year, the Packers also dealt Rasul Douglas to the Bills.
Green Bay didn’t choose a corner until Round 7 (Kalen King), and they didn’t join Detroit in hosting Arnold on a “30” visit. At No. 25, the team selected Jordan Morgan, a tackle. The Packers discussed trading for No. 16 with the Seahawks, but they never made an offer for that pick. To go from No. 29 to No. 24, the Lions had to give up a 2025 seventh-round pick and their No. 73 overall pick. They’ll wager that Arnold is worth the box that was shipped to Dallas.
According to SI.com’s Albert Breer, the Lions did not think it plausible that Arnold would still be there by No. 24, but it is thought that the organization put together trade conditions involving another player. That expedited Detroit’s ascent up the ranks. Given that the Eagles were presumably the favorites to select Arnold at No. 22, the Lions watched as Philadelphia selected Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo. The fact that there was no defensive pick until the fifteenth round in the draft helped both clubs. According to Breer, Brad Holmes and company were considering Mizzou’s Darius Robinson as the guy the Lions were originally hoping to get through a trade-up.
The Lions appeared prepared to trade up for multiple defenders in this class; it is unclear if the Cowboys and Lions had a trade arranged before Arnold remained on the board. Robinson, a defensive lineman with versatility, was selected by the Cardinals at No. 27 overall.
