Lions trade up to select Alabama CB Terrion Arnold at No. 24 overall in 2024 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions ascended the draft board to secure one of the leading defensive backs in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Lions acquired the No. 24 overall pick in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to select Alabama corner Terrion Arnold.

Detroit traded the 29th overall pick and the 73rd pick (third-round) to Dallas in exchange for the 24th selection and a seventh-rounder in 2025.

General manager Brad Holmes has hit a home-run with this move, securing a pro-ready defensive back for a defense that was in dire need of assistance in the secondary.

Arnold earned first-team All-American and All-SEC honors in his final season at Alabama, tying for sixth in the FBS with five interceptions and fifth in passes defensed (17). According to Pro Football Focus, Arnold finished with the fifth-lowest passer rating allowed at 50.7 (minimum 60 coverage targets), the lowest rating allowed in coverage by a Crimson Tide defender since NFL star Trevon Diggs posted a 45.3 in 2019.

Arguably the draft’s most charismatic player, Arnold captivated reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine with his command of the podium. He was even better on the field, nailing most every drill and testing at a rate that matches premier up-and-coming corners like Chicago’s Jaylon Johnson.

Arnold is swift, smooth, disciplined, and designed to effectively cover receivers in man-to-man defense. His aggression may be his most valuable characteristic, compensating for his minor size deficiency and enabling him to reliably guard receivers of any kind. His knack for intercepting passes outside of the targeted frame positions him as an emerging interception expert. As he generally excels at sticking close to his assignment, this combination of talents should enable him to perform effectively at the next level.

Arnold joins fellow former Crimson Tide defensive back Brian Branch, a 2023 second-rounder, in Detroit’s secondary.

The Lions’ defense ranked bottom-six in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game, passing yards allowed per attempt and pass touchdowns given up in 2023. Detroit released veteran Cam Sutton this offseason following legal issues.

Arnold was expected to be picked earlier in the draft, but when he dropped to the 20s, Holmes, the Lions’ GM, didn’t hesitate to snatch up the Alabama star. Holmes has consistently demonstrated a lack of fear in manipulating the board and targeting specific players. This strategy proved highly successful for Detroit last season, as it acquired significant playmakers during its division championship run. Incorporating Arnold instantly improves Detroit’s most vulnerable area.

For Dallas, the Cowboys used the No. 29 pick on offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, an athletic blocker with massive size at 6-foot-7, 322 pounds. Guyton owns extreme upside as a raw player who lacks a ton of experience. Dallas needed to upgrade the offensive line after the exit of Tyron Smith. It plucked a player with massive potential while adding a third-round pick to the mix.