The Detroit Lions entered the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 with seven picks over the three-day draft, which they are hosting. They now have s9x picks in 2024 after trades. They sent Nos. 29 and 73 to the Dallas Cowboys for No. 24, which they used to draft Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold. The Lions also gained a seventh-round pick in 2025 in the trade.
On Friday, in Round 2, they selected another cornerback: Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Saturday, they traded a 2025 third-round pick for No. 126 in this year’s fourth round and drafted offensive tackle Giovanni Manu from the University of British Columbia. Then they traded again, sending Nos. 164, 201 and a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Eagles for Nos. 132 and 210. The Lions drafted Utah’s Sione Vaki with the pick at 132.
Later Saturday, they sent Nos. 205 and 249 to the Houston Texans for No. 189 and drafted LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Lions pick.
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NFL Draft 2024 ‘The Beast’ Guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports and player rankings
Round 1
No. 24 (via Cowboys): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
How he fits
The local fans in Detroit were concerned the Lions might trade out of the first round. But when the corners started falling, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell couldn’t help but pick up the phone. Detroit trades up five spots, from No. 29 to No. 24 and fills a big need. Arnold and Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell were pretty clearly the top two corners in this draft. Top 15 prospects on my board.
For Detroit, Arnold fills an obvious need and is a perfect fit for Detroit’s culture. He is a confident corner who plays with swag, he loves to work, he loves tough coaching and he loves to win. Arnold also gets to reunite with Brian Branch in a new-look Detroit secondary. Another great value pick. — Nick Baumgardner
Dane Brugler’s analysis
“A basketball-focused athlete most of his life, Arnold is fluid when he opens up with speed, gear-down skills and body control to stay in phase with basic or sophisticated routes. With average recovery skills, he needs to continue developing his discipline versus both pass and the run, but his awareness for the football is outstanding, and he plays with urgency in run support. Overall, Arnold offers an ideal blend of cover athleticism and competitive makeup, with the ball skills to make plays at every level of the field. He is scheme-versatile and has the talent to work inside or outside.
“He can be an NFL team’s No. 1 cornerback, offering a skill set similar to that of the Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson.”
Colton Pouncy’s analysis
Detroit Lions draft Alabama CB Terrion Arnold: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: A
Round 1 grades for all 32 picks
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Round 2
No. 61: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
How he fits
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glen couldn’t call as much man coverage as he wanted to last season simply because he didn’t have the corners to do it. GM Brad Holmes has attacked that problem with aggression. The Lions traded for Carlton Davis III, drafted Arnold in the first round and now have drafted Rakestraw, another press man corner, in the second round. Rakestraw is undersized and doesn’t have great speed but he’s competitive and instinctive. — Ted Nguyen
Dane Brugler’s analysis
“With his physicality and footwork, Rakestraw is at his best in press man, where he can stay square and smother underneath routes. Though he stays balanced in his transitions, he can lose a stride vertically to speed (his 1.92 “flying 20” time ranked 26th out of 28 cornerbacks who ran the 40-yard dash at the combine). His lack of interception-worthy plays is a concern, too.
“Overall, Rakestraw doesn’t have the desired long speed or build for his position, and his injury history is a concern, but he plays aggressive, sticky coverage with NFL-quality movement skills and confidence. He has NFL starting man-cover talent, if he stays healthy.”
Scott Dochterman’s grade: A-minus
Round 2-3 grades for every pick
Round 3
No picks
Round 4
No. 126 (via Jets): Giovanni Manu, OT, University of British Columbia
How he fits
This is another classic Holmes pick. A year after taking Colby Sorsdahl — a project guard from William & Mary — in the fifth round, Holmes and the Lions move up into the fourth round for a project offensive tackle in Manu. A 6-foot-7, 352-pounder, Manu has incredible traits with 34 5/8-inch arms, 10 1/2-inch hands and an 83-inch wingspan. He also ran a 5.06 40 with a 33 1/2-inch vertical leap. Detroit’s clearly in no rush to replace Taylor Decker and believes it has the time necessary to turn Manu from a project (our Dane Brugler had a PFA grade on him) to a starting-caliber player. This is a big test for Detroit offensive line coach Hank Fraley, one of the team’s most valued assistants. — Nick Baumgardner
Dane Brugler’s analysis
Brugler ranked Manu No. 298 in his Top 300 big board. What he had to say about Manu:
“Werner ‘Giovanni’ Manu was born in Tonga before moving to Canada at age 11. He was a natural at basketball, then started playing football when he attended Pitt Meadows Secondary in 2013. Between his freshman and sophomore years in high school, he grew five inches and put on almost 80 pounds. He continued to play basketball (averaged more than 30 points per game as a senior) but was recruited for football. He enrolled at the University of British Columbia and earned the starting left tackle job as a freshman. He was a four-year starter for the Thunderbirds, also seeing time at guard. His unpolished tendencies are easy to spot on tape — he plays too narrow and off balance in the run game with late hands in pass pro. But he moves really well for his size, especially out in space, and punishes anyone in his way.
“Overall, Manu isn’t NFL ready, but he is a highly intriguing developmental tackle with rare athletic tools that might get him drafted.”
With the 126th pick of the 2024 @NFLDraft, the @Lions have selected @ubcfbl T @itsyaboigio.
Manu is the first player from the University of British Columbia to be selected in any NFL Draft.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/pToFj0Rxp6
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) April 27, 2024
No. 132 (via Eagles): Sione Vaki, RB, Utah
How he fits
Vaki was a two-way player who was primarily a safety with the Utes. The Lions, however, sent the card in for Vaki as a running back. They met with him multiple times during the pre-draft process and he feels like a Holmes guy. Vaki played only two years of college ball after spending three years on an a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; his 158 yards against Cal featured a 72-yard run (the longest Utah had all year). — Nick Baumgardner and Colton Pouncy
Dane Brugler’s analysis
Brugler ranked and evaluated Vaki as a safety. He had him at No. 204 in his Top 300 big board. What he had to say about Vaki:
“A two-year starter at Utah, Vaki was a strong safety in defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley’s hybrid 4-2-5 scheme. After serving a religious mission, he joined Utah prior to the 2022 season and brought infectious energy to the field at safety — and as a running back this past season, because of injuries on Utah’s offense (he led the defense in snaps played in 2023, despite the added role). A finalist for the Hornung Award, given to college football’s most versatile player, he became the first Utah defender with two rushing touchdowns in a single game since Eric Weddle in 2006.”
Round 5
No picks
Round 6
No. 189 (via Texans): Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
How he fits
Wingo was the No. 9 defensive tackle on Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. He has a quick first step, with interior pass-rush juice. Excellent value here who adds to the Lions’ defensive tackle depth. — Colton Pouncy
Dane Brugler’s analysis
Brugler ranked Wingo No. 95 in his Top 300 big board. What he had to say about him:
“A powerful, energetic athlete, Wingo is agile and flexible in tight spaces with the body control to shoot or loop gaps. While he can win quickly at the snap, he can also be washed by down blocks and smothered by bigger bodies.
“Overall, Wingo has a short-armed, squatty body type with an inconsistent anchor, but his first-step quickness and shock in his hands often gives him early advantages. He has NFL starting potential as a three-technique in a four-man front, projecting as a not-as-explosive version of Ed Oliver.”
No. 210 (via Eagles)
Round 7
No picks
(Photo of Sione Vaki: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
