Detroit Lions trade up in NFL draft, take cornerback Terrion Arnold from Alabama
Brad Holmes did it again.
The Detroit Lions traded up five spots in the first round of Thursday’s 2024 NFL draft hosted in downtown Detroit to take Terrion Arnold, an Alabama cornerback, with the 24th overall pick from the Dallas Cowboys.
Holmes, in his fourth season as Lions general manager, has now made 10 draft day trades and traded a first-round pick in three straight drafts.
Last year, Holmes moved down from No. 6 to No. 12 and received a high second-round pick as part of the deal. The Lions took running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 and used the extra second-round choice on tight end Sam LaPorta. Both were key players in last season's historic playoff run.
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In 2022, Holmes moved up from No. 32 to No. 12 to take wide receiver Jameson Williams.
On Thursday, he made another aggressive move up from Pick No. 29 for Arnold, a player considered one of the best cover men in the draft.
Lions coach Dan Campbell indicated in a radio interview Wednesday the Lions had a top group of about 15 players they coveted in Round 1. After that group, Campbell said there was another collection of players who could "grow into" being eventual starters.
MORE: Lions NFL draft picks history: Their 5 best and 5 worst first-round selections
The Lions entered the week with seven draft picks but just three of the first 164 picks.
The Lions also have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, with capable veteran starters at every position.
Holmes said in his pre-draft news conference that roster construction gave the team more flexibility in the draft.
“We try to do the best we can in free agency in terms of plugging holes and pulling out the depth chart and do all those things, and we feel that we did a great job in free agency and we’re in a position to go whichever direction that we want to go," he said. "So I actually get more comfort of how the roster’s now. It’s, yeah, it’s less of, 'Oh we really need this, we need depth here.' No, it’s more. It’s even – we’ve always said best player, but it’s even more emphasized now."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions trade up in NFL draft for Terrion Arnold from Alabama
