With Terrion Arnold recently being released, the 2024 draft class of the Detroit Lions seems to leave much to be desired right now. As someone who likes to think of solutions to problems, instead of just complaining about them, I wanted to look back on that draft and see if I can’t come up with a hindsight fix to make the 2024 Lions draft a success.
First, let’s take a look at the Lions’ predraft order;
Round 1, Pick 29 (29th overall)
Round 2, Pick 29 (61st overall)
Round 3, Pick 9 (73rd overall) from Vikings
Round 5, Pick 29 (164th overall)
Round 6, Pick 25 (201st overall) from Buccaneers
Round 6, Pick 29 (205th overall)
Round 7, Pick 29 (249th overall)
And here was the actual 2024 draft class…
Terrion Arnold
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Giovanni Manu
Sione Vaki
Mekhi Wingo
Christian Mahogany
Ok, let’s have some fun…
(Note: I used the Rich Hill Modern Draft Trade Value Chart to generate potential trades)
29 – Cooper DeJean, CB/S
Trade Up: 42 – Kamari Lassiter, CB (DET sends 61 + 164 + 2025 4th to HOU for 42)
Trade Down: 120 – Tanor Bortolini, C/G (DET sends 73 to PHI for 120 + 155 + 210)
155 – Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB
Trade Up: 189 – Mekhi Wingo, DT (DET sends 205 + 249 to HOU for 189)
201 – Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE
210 – Christian Mahogany, G
Final 2024 Redraft Recap:
29 – Cooper DeJean: Excellent CB/S. No brainer.
42 – Kamari Lassiter: Outside CB to be what we hoped we had in Arnold. The draft capital is worth it.
120 – Tanor Bortolini: Frank Ragnow succession plan at center, with guard flexibility.
155 – Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: Future Anzalone replacement at LB
189 – Mekhi Wingo: still might be the best player available here?
201 – Javontae Jean-Baptiste: developmental EDGE and special teams upside
210 – Christian Mahogany: Still hopefully fills the long term starting left guard role.
* I debated with selecting Dominick Puni earlier in the redraft, but we have Ratledge coming next year!
What does everyone think? Let’s here some other creative solutions!