Lions sign Terrion Arnold to complete 2024 draft class

A year ago, the Detroit Lions did not have their entire draft class under contract until just before training camp when they Jahmyr Gibbs' deal was announced. This year they've gotten it done sooner, with Thursday's announcement that first-round pick cornerback Terrion Arnold has been signed.

The Lions signed four of their 2024 draft picks (Giovanni Manu, Sione Vaki, Mehki Wingo and Christian Mahogany) on May 10. Second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw followed on May 31, and now Arnold has been signed on June 13.

Arnold is in line to be an immediate starter for the Lions, and even if he's not starting from the get-go he will be a key piece of an overhauled cornerback depth chart. He certainly has the skill set and mentality to succeed right away, and for a long time.

Lions complete 2024 draft class with Terrion Arnold signing

The terms of Arnold's deal are not known yet. But Over The Cap's contract projections are a good template: four years, $14.34 million with a $7.25 million signing bonus.

The deal will of course have a fifth-year option for the 2028 season, since Arnold is a first-round pick (No. 24 overall). The cost of that will be determined by Arnold's playing time and performance when the Lions have to make that decision (before his fourth season).

At minimum, as noted by Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, the fifth-year option for Arnold would be the average of the third through 25th-highest salaries at his position the season before the option is executed. As an example, to the lower-cost end based on what he had done (not done) to that point, if the Lions had picked up cornerback Jeff Okudah's option before trading him to the Falcons in 2023 it would have cost them $11.51 million.

Apparently right after putting pen to paper on his rookie contract, Arnold headed over to Comerica Park to throw out the first pitch at the Detroit Tigers' game. And his rookie teammates joined him there.