Top cornerback prospect reveals pre-draft visit to the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are obviously doing a lot of pre-draft work on the cornerback prospects in this year's class, with at least five cornerbacks known to be on the slate to come to Allen Park for a top-30 visit. The most notable before Wednesday was Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry.

On Wednesday morning, one of the top cornerback prospects in this year's class (and McKinstry's teammate) Terrion Arnold, revealed his visit with the Lions on social media. He documented special visits he made to the lockers of Alabama teammates Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams.

Arnold is the No. 1 cornerback prospect in this year's draft class for Dane Brugler of The Athletic (subscription required. For most others, he's only behind Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell. Coming in at 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, he posted a 9.25 Relative Athletic Score at the combine.

"Arnold worked primarily at left outside cornerback in former head coach Nick Saban’s scheme and would follow receivers to the slot, depending on the matchup (24.4 percent of snaps inside in 2023). After redshirting in 2021 and playing a part-time role in 2022, he led the SEC in both passes defended (17) and interceptions (five) in 2023."
-Dane Brugler, The Athletic

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 a 50.7 passer rating in his coverage last year (per PFF).

Detroit Lions will have to trade up if they want Terrion Arnold

As much as McKinstry looks like a great fit for the Lions, and he's far more likely to be available at No. 29, NFL.com passed along sentiment from a scout that points to Arnold's upside.

“Kool-Aid (McKinstry) is more reliable and consistent than Arnold, but I think Arnold has more pure cover talent.” - NFC regional scout"

Arnold could go top-10 in the draft later this month, and at this point he's not falling out of the top-15 to 20. So the Lions will have to trade up significantly to get him, which is something Brad Holmes showed he's not afraid to do when he traded up from No. 32 to No. 12 to get Jameson Williams in the first round of the 2022 draft.

Holmes' affinity for Alabama players is also becoming well-known. While the odds it's Arnold are naturally low, another Crimson Tide player may become a new Detroit Lion at the end of the month.