When it came to cornerback Terrion Arnold in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions did not mess around. As the Alabama product slipped into the 20s in the first round, general manager Brad Holmes decided to trade up and get his guy.
The hope is that Arnold will be ready to start opposite Carlton Davis in his first year and provide the boost to the pass defense Detroit needs to make another deep playoff run.
With Arnold expected to see the field a lot in 2024, there remains a decent shot for him to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, something ESPN's Mike Clay is projecting the him to do.
Detroit already has a terrific offense in place, but the defense is on the ascent. That includes a new-look secondary led by first-round pick Arnold and veteran standout Carlton Davis III. Expect this duo to lock down the perimeter this season. Arnold, who had five interceptions at Alabama last season, will be well positioned for a very productive rookie campaign.
The last cornerback to win the award was New York Jets 2022 first-round pick Sauce Gardner, who tallied a league-high 20 passes defensed and two picks in his first season. Gardner also surrendered a completion rate of just 53.5% and a passer rating of 62.7.
That gives you an idea of what Arnold will have to do to win an award that is typically dominated by players in the front-seven. In the last 30 years, only four cornerbacks have won the honor, although three of those four have happened in the last 10 years.
While history says the deck is stacked against cornerbacks when it comes to the award, if there's one who can buck the trend in 2024, it's Arnold, who has all the tools to be an immediate-impact player.
