2024 Detroit Lions Draft
The DETROIT LIONS 2024 Draft Recap
Team Needs:
CB, OL, WR, DE
Summary:
I should give Detroit some extra credit here for hosting a record breaking event. The hospitality was grand; downtown Detroit felt rejuevenated; and the energy was electric all weekend long. However, to maintain the integrity of just grading the draft list I have Detroit just inside the top half of the teams.
Detroit was awarded by drafting near the bottom of the list when star cornerback Terrion Arnold fell far enough down the board that Holmes had no choice but to make the call to Dallas and make the trade for him at No. 24. In the second round Detroit was equally awarded when another cornerback, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was still available when it was their turn to pick again.
The true value of this draft will be seen once we get a look at Giovanni Manu and Sione Vaki. Manu, compares to JC Latham and Amarius Mims who went in the first-round respectively. Manu, however does not have experience of either of them and is a very raw talent. Which leads us to the second part of this. How much of a risk was it to exchange a 2025 third-round selection for the 4th rounder they used to select Manu? As far as Vaki, his value is currently on special teams, joining the likes of "Rodrigo" in that department. Vaki is also capable of carrying the ball, but kinda hard to see him doing that with the likes of Montgomery and Gibbs handling those duties for the Lions already.
2024 Draft Picks:
RD 1: No. 24
Draft Grade: A
RD 2: No. 61
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Draft Grade: A-
RD 4: No. 126
Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia
Draft Grade: C-
RD 4: No. 132
Draft Grade: C
RD 6: No. 189
Draft Grade: B
RD 6: No. 210
Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College
Draft Grade: B+