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It’s no secret the Detroit Lions need help at cornerback. They finished 27th in the NFL in passing yards allowed last season, and three of their top four cornerbacks in terms of snaps from 2023 are unrestricted free agents. To fill that need, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox proposed the Lions making a drastic move. Not in free agency, but a trade up in the first round for perhaps Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.
Knox named jumping up the draft board for Arnold, his college teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry or Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell the dream trade scenario for Detroit.
“While the Lions can afford to target a top cover corner in free agency, getting one on a rookie contract would be preferable. Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is already extension-eligible, and Detroit will likely want to extend quarterback Jared Goff sooner than later,” wrote Knox.
“Landing one of this year’s top corner prospects at 29th overall will be difficult, though.
“The Lions appear to be only be a couple pieces away from being a legitimate Super Bowl team. Parting with additional draft capital to jump up and secure one of them would be worth it.”
Knox did not specify how high he’d suggest the Lions trade up for a top cornerback. But the Lions possess four picks in the top 100. That’s third-most in the NFL this year, which could allow Detroit to move up on Day 1.
How Alabama’s Terrion Arnold Could Fit in Detroit
It’s not hard to see why Knox suggested the Lions to be aggressive in an effort to grab Arnold.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Bleacher Report’s NFL scouts agreed that Arnold is the best available cornerback in the 2024 class. Jeremiah has Arnold ranked sixth among all prospects.
“Arnold has ideal size, speed and instincts for the position. He plays both outside and inside at the nickel,” Jeremiah wrote. “Overall, I struggled to find much to criticize in Arnold’s play, despite his lack of experience at the position, having arrived at Alabama as a highly regarded safety prospect. He has all the tools and traits to be a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback.”
Bleacher Report’s Cory Giddings called Arnold “the top cornerback” in this year’s draft.
Should the Lions Trade Up in the First-Round of the NFL Draft?
Asking whether the Lions should move up in the first round of the 2024 draft is an interesting question. Even if one answers resoundingly “yes,” then there’s a follow up question — where do they trade up to?
On January 30, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranked seven cornerbacks among his top 50 prospects in the 2024 NFL draft. But Arnold is the only one he has ranked in the top 16.
If the Lions agree with Jeremiah that Arnold is the best of the 2024 cornerback crop, they may need to trade into the top 10 to get him. Such a trade would be very expensive, but it may be the best way the Lions can ensure to get Arnold.
But if Detroit has two or three cornerbacks they like a lot, then general manager Brad Holmes could trade into the 15-20 range. One of the top cornerbacks in the class is likely to still be available there.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t convinced Arnold is the best cornerback prospect. He has Iowa’s Cooper DeJean at No. 1 with Arnold ranked third among cornerbacks and at No. 15 overall.
So, Arnold may not guaranteed to be a top 10 pick, just like the Lions aren’t guaranteed to like Arnold the best of all the 2024 cornerbacks.
Therefore, the Lions trading up for a cornerback could very well be a fluid situation. If they see Arnold and other cornerbacks drop out of the top 10, maybe that will be the best time for Holmes to pull off a big jump up the board.
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