The Detroit Lions had plenty of needs to consider this offseason, but arguably the most important was at cornerback. Fortunately, they addressed that hole in a big way.
By adding Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Lions powerfully filled a void in their secondary, and could quickly benefit from the decision to prioritize the position.
In analyzing the offseason, Pro Football Focus writer Trevor Sikkema discussed every team's top offseason move. Interestingly enough, Sikkema believes the decision to double down at cornerback was the best decision the Lions made.
"The Lions had one major team need this offseason before making another run at a Super Bowl in 2024: the secondary, specifically the cornerback position. Detroit earned just a 56.4 coverage grade from its cornerbacks in 2023."
"They traded for Carlton Davis III and made some nice depth signings, but I love that they remained aggressive after all that and traded up for Terrion Arnold in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Arnold isn’t just a win-now piece. He can be a building block for the future."
The Lions have set up their roster with pieces for both now and later, and their moves at cornerback were a continuation of this dynamic. With Arnold, Rakestraw and Carlton Davis in tow, the Lions could have enough depth on the back end to become serious contenders now and also in the future. It could give them enough firepower to overcome the best teams in the league.
Aaron Glenn confident in Terrion Arnold making a quick adjustment to NFL
In order to be a piece to rely on in 2024 for a potential Super Bowl run, Arnold is going to have to adjust quickly to the NFL and get off to a hot start in his career. Sometimes, that's a difficult feat to pull off.
The position has one of the steepest learning curves for a young player because of the league's reliance on passing and complicated offensive schemes. As a result, even elite rookie corners struggle. In the case of Arnold, that will be something to watch as he develops.
Detroit defensive coordinator and former NFL cornerback Aaron Glenn discussed why he thinks Arnold will adjust well to his new surroundings even amid a few growing pains.
"Terrion (Arnold) comes from Alabama. The thing is, he's not playing Georgia every week (there). Once you get into the NFL, you're playing a top-notch player every week and he has to understand that. There's no weeks off. You're not playing ick-back state now. You're playing a quality NFL receiver every week, and he's going to get his lumps just like (Ennis) Rakestraw. They're going to get their lumps. But the mentality of those guys, they are fighters and that's one of the reasons why we got them. They'll be ready to play each week."
Detroit drafting Arnold could prove to be a move that tips the scales for the defense, and the Lions could reap the rewards of adding multiple top-flight cornerbacks as the season progresses. It may help them to get over the hump defensively and win bigger in 2024 and beyond.