Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes had an outstanding 2024 NFL Draft and has rightly received no shortage of praise for the moves he made. Further showing that is a recent list of the biggest steals of the three-day event.
According to Pro Football Focus, two of the Lions' six 2024 NFL Draft picks made the cut on the list. First up was cornerback Terrion Arnold, who was taken with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round after a trade up.
Here's PFF's write-up on Arnold:
A feisty man coverage specialist, Arnold was the target of a Lions trade-up at No. 24, marking another step in an overhaul of their secondary after the team acquired Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson earlier in the offseason.
Arnold is capable of holding up as a boundary cornerback but really thrived inside, grading out in the 90th percentile when lined up in the slot in 2023. His five interceptions this past season tied for sixth among Power Five cornerbacks.
The second Lions pick to make the list was sixth-round pick and guard, Christian Mahogany, who fell into the category of one of the biggest steals among Day 3 selections. PFF said the following:
A premier pass protector, Mahogany allowed just 14 pressures and one sack on 711 pass-blocking snaps from 2021 to 2023. He thrives in close quarters in the run game, posting a 75.0-plus run-blocking grade in both inside-zone and duo schemes, making him a seamless fit for the Lions, who want to get vertical quickly. Detroit's interior starters seem set for now — Graham Glasgow, Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow — but Mahogany is clearly the next man up if any of them were to go down.
Many projected Arnold to go in the top half of the first round. Based on that alone, Arnold was great value for Detroit. Mahogany was also projected to go higher than he did, so Holmes did very well for himself with that pick, also.
While Arnold should be able to grab a starting role in his first year, Mahogany will have to wait his turn with the Lions already having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
