So I’m going to continue that here with today’s draft. I’m going all in on this one like I know the Lions are about to contend for a championship and they just need a few extra guys. Let’s jump into it.
Trade
Lions GM Brad Holmes speaks to the media on Tuesday, Jan.11, 2022, in Allen Park. Lions
Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
When you go all in you have to literally go all in. You’ve got to take your chips and move them to the center of the table. That’s what I did. I saw what I wanted and I put the chips in the middle of the table for a chance to go up and get my guy.
Lions get: 13th and 44th picks
Raiders get: 29th, 61st and 73rd picks and the Lions first and third-round picks in 2025
You have to do what you have to do. You can’t go all in without the risk of giving up the future.
13th pick: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Sep 10, 2022; Austin, TX, USA; Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold (3) jumps to intercept a pass over Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (8) during the game at Royal Memorial Stadium on Sep. 10, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
The Lions go out and get the top cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft with this move. Arnold is very good and is an immediate day one starter for the Lions. It’s the perfect move for a team that’s completely rebuilding their secondary for the future.
Arnold had a big season for Alabama last year. He allowed a 50.7 passer rating and picked off five passes. Teams really had to think twice when they threw his way.
Trade
Lions GM Brad Holmes speaks to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Allen Park. Lions
Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
An interesting thing happened on the way to the second round. The Raiders decided to trade down from the 29th pick the Lions traded them. They may have traded down too far. So when we got to the 44th pick and Bo Nix was still on the board, the Raiders called back and asked to trade up. So I obliged.
Lions get: 50th and 77th picks
Raiders get: 44th and 164th picks
And just like that, the Lions are back in the third round again and still have a higher second round pick than they had before. The problem is that there is going to be a gap between 77 and 201. I just could not pull a trade off and when you see who I got at 77, you’ll know why I didn’t trade down from there.
50th pick: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Sep 2, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) during the first quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve talked a lot about the Lions need for a big bodied X receiver and here he is. The thing I like the most about Legette is that he can bully cornerbacks with his strength and size, but he can also fly down the field. He can also fly in the end zone when he goes up and gets the ball too. Jared Goff and Antwaan Randle-El will be grinning ear to ear with this one.
77th pick: Marshawn Kneeland, ED, Western Michigan
Feb 28, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland (DL41) talks to the media at the 2024 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
This felt like such a steal at 77. Kneeland is a guy that’s expected to go in the second-round at some point and the Lions were able to scoop in him up near the top of the third-round.
I’ve talked about Kneeland a lot. He is a guy that a lot of teams are going to be interested in. It’s all about that 4.7 speed and his ability to move offensive linemen around. He just bull rushes through guys. If he can’t do that, he finds a way to get around them.
201st pick: Sione Vaki, S, Utah
Sep 24, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; ASU running back Xazavian Valladay (1) attempts to stiff arm Utah defender Sione Vaki (28) at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday. Football Utah Asu Utah At Asu
Another steal if you ask me. Vaki could have gone in the fifth, but the Lions were able to get him in the sixth. After an offseason of talking to him at the Senior Bowl, the combine, his pro day and at his top-30 visit, the Lions are loving life being the team to get him.
205th pick: Khristian Boyd, DL, Northern Iowa
249th pick: Qwantez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Argonauts (CFL)