The 2023 Detroit Lions emerged as one of the NFL’s most entertaining and intriguing teams, despite their cornerback group’s struggles. Despite allowing a league-high 24 touchdowns and boasting a subpar opponent passer rating, they nearly reached Super Bowl LVIII. It was evident that the Lions needed to upgrade their cornerback position heading into the 2024 NFL draft, especially with a preference for corners adept at press and man coverage, qualities desired by defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, a former standout cornerback himself.
The first step in addressing this need was the selection of Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the 24th overall pick. This was followed by the addition of Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, Jr. in the second round (69th overall). While there may be some reservations about Rakestraw’s performance against certain receivers, Arnold’s skill set appears more promising.
Brad Holmes, the general manager, praised Arnold’s versatility and continual improvement throughout his collegiate career. Arnold’s aggressive playing style, coupled with his ability to tackle and match up effectively in coverage, align well with the Lions’ defensive philosophy. His agility, speed, and instinctual playmaking ability were evident in his impressive interception and pass breakup statistics from the previous season, demonstrating his capability to disrupt top NCAA receivers.
Absolutely. While catching a pass underneath might seem like a small victory, Arnold’s swift reaction will quickly make receivers think twice.
In the NFL, every team requires at least one cornerback who takes personal offense at the notion of any receiver daring to catch the ball against them. Since Darius Slay in 2019, the Lions have lacked such a player. However, in Terrion Arnold, they may have found someone who could elevate their chances of entering Super Bowl conversations in 2024.
