Grading each Detroit Lions pick from the 2024 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions entered the 2024 NFL Draft with seven picks, and exited it with six picks/players selected. Brad Holmes traded up a few times, and only one pick was made in the spot it was originally.

But when you have a roster with few holes, it's fine to consolidate draft capital, maybe tap into future draft capital, and just go get your guys. And Holmes has more than earned the benefit of any doubt when it comes to his moves in the draft. With so few roster spots seeming open, fewer draft picks is probably better.

The reviews of the Lions' 2024 draft class are coming in, and they're coming in strong by whatever measure someone might want to use.

With that, here's our pick-by-pick grades of the Lions' 2024 draft class.

Detroit Lions 2024 NFL Draft: Grading each pick

First Round, No. 24 overall: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

As 23 offensive players were taken in the first round, including the first 14 picks, defensive players fell down the board. That worked to the Lions' advantage, with more of their need areas on that side of the ball. Arnold, the No. 1 cornerback in this class for many draft analysts, fell to No. 24 and Holmes pounced, trading No. 29 overall and No. 73 overall to get him.

Arnold posted the 13th-best overall Pro Football Focus grade among college cornerbacks last season (88.4), with an 84.9 coverage grade and a 90.6 run defense grade (third-best). He allowed just a 50.7 passer rating in his coverage last year (41 receptions allowed on 79 targets, per PFF), with five interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Holmes said Arnold was the top cornerback on the Lions' draft board by a notable margin (a "significant line underneath him to next guy", was the exact quote) with intangible qualities to go with his all-around talent.

With where the Lions had their picks coming into the draft, you could take issue with the idea of parting with a third round pick to move up five spots for Arnold. But a high grade right after it happened may stand on even better ground now.

Grade: A+

Second Round, No. 61 overall: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri

Rakestraw's draft stock fell after he ran a slow 40 at the NFL Combine, but end of the second round was a little too far as he was still a top 30 or 40 player in the entire draft class for some analysts. Holmes said the Missouri product was the No. 2 corner on the Lions' board, and they didn't even have to trade up for him (though not for a lack of trying, apparently).

Rakestraw missed the final four games of last season due to a core muscle injury he had been playing through, and subsequent surgery, totaling 35 tackles and four pass breakups over nine games he played (eight starts). He was targeted just 28 times in the games when he was on the field last season, including just one target against LSU with the No. 2 overall pick quarterback and two first-round wide receivers.

Rakestraw posted an 80.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade last season, with a top-12 run defense grade among cornerbacks (89.0. In 2022, he had 12 pass breakups, 35 total tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

The only real knock on this pick is the Lions doubling-up at cornerback as they headed for not being on the clock again until pick No. 164. Finding playing time for everyone might be a thing too, but Holmes backed up his notion that you can never have too many cornerbacks and Rakestraw parallels Arnold as a strong fit.

Grade: B+

Fourth Round, No. 126 overall: Giovanni Manu, OT, University of British Columbia (Canada)

The Lions traded up early on Day 3, sending a 2025 third-round pick to the New York Jets for pick No. 126. The cost, as in none of this year's draft capital, was surprisingly reasonable.

Then the Lions pulled a shocker by taking Manu, a project offensive tackle out of the University of British Columbia. He looked like a man among boys against his college competition, but he is supremely athletic for his size and his perceived upside was shown by the fact he had pre-draft visits with 11 teams.

Now being the reigning NFC runners-up gives you leeway when it comes to needing draft picks to contribute immediately. But it seems the Lions are taking just a few too many of these type of fliers (Brodric Martin, Hendon Hooker) and trading up for them like they did with Martin last year.

An edge rusher or a big, "X" wide receiver might have been worth trading into the fourth round for, while giving up a top-100 pick next year. A project offensive tackle, not so much. It'd be tempting, and unfair, to give this pick an awful grade, so a mediocre grade it is due to the sheer unknown of Manu.

Grade: C

Fourth Round, No. 132 overall: Sione Vaki, S/RB, Utah

The Lions clearly liked Vaki, the most versatile prospect in this draft. They were probably going to have to move up from No. 164 to assure they got him though, and that's what they did. They also got pick No. 210 from the Philadelphia Eagles (more on that later), while giving up No. 164, No. 201 and the 2025 fourth-rounder they got from the Eagles in the D'Andre Swift trade.

Vaki is a safety by primary trade, but he was pressed into duty at running back last season and excelled (7.5 yards per carry, 18.5 yards per reception). Some analysts see his NFL future to be far better as a running back than a safety, while he is easily projected to be a top-notch special teamer (and possibly a return man).

There is something to be said for identifying players you want, and doing whatever it takes to go get them. Conviction overtakes ultimately being right in those moments, and Holmes' quote about Vaki sums it up nicely.

"He’s a football player that plays football like (how) we like it," Holmes said.

Grade: B+

Sixth Round, No. 189 overall: Mehki Wingo, DT, LSU

The Lions traded up again, sending pick No. 205 and pick No. 249 to the Houston Texans for No. 189 to get Wingo.

Wingo had third or fourth-round projections from many analysts. He is undersized (6-foot, 284 pounds), and he is coming off a fairly significant injury that cost him games last season. About that injury.....

According to Pro Football Focus , Wingo was tied for 48th among defensive lineman who played 20 percent of snaps with an overall grade of 77.6. He is a stronger run defender than a pass rusher, but the skill difference isn’t massive (75.0 run defense grade; 73.3 pass rush grade). Holmes noted the similarity to Josh Paschal, in terms of inside/outside versatility.

Grade: A

Seventh Round, No. 210 overall: Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

Mahagony should not have fallen anywhere near this far. Perhaps he was knocked due to missing the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL, but he was a three-year starter (one at left guard, two at right guard) at Boston College otherwise and allowed zero sacks last season. He got top-30 grades (among guards) from PFF as a pass blocker (82.2) and a run blocker (74.5).

At 6-foot-4 and 314 pounds, Mahogany moves very well and has a physical/violent streak to him (some "dirt bag" in him, as Holmes put it).

Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, a noted lover of heavier rock/user of analogies rooted in that, likes Mahogany a lot.

Mahogany looks like the future right guard for the Lions, but he'll start out as the favorite to be the top reserve guard as a rookie.

Grade: A