After a remarkable season of biting kneecaps and making history, the Detroit Lions are out for blood following a heartbreaking NFC championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers. A productive offseason allowed coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes to shore up key contracts and adapt to a new wave of draft talent for this upcoming season.
If there was any doubt about how the Lions’ first-round pick from the University of Alabama, Terrion Arnold, would fit into the team’s hard-nosed ethos, this quote from him should clear things up: “If my mom … lined up across from me as a receiver, I would jam her into the dirt.”
Arnold could fill the spot of veteran cornerback Cameron Sutton, who was released after one season with the Lions following his arrest on a charge of domestic violence. Considered by some to be the “steal of the draft,” Arnold is expected to hit the ground running and have an immediate impact for the Lions’ defense this season. “They’re going to develop me into the man that I want to become and the player that everyone wants me to become,” Arnold said during minicamp when asked what excites him about being drafted by the Lions.
As the Lions tried to restructure a defense that struggled with pass coverage, they further beefed up their cornerback depth with second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. out of the University of Missouri. He joins a newly revamped secondary of Carlton Davis III, Amik Robertson, and Arnold.
Chemistry between rookie cornerbacks Arnold and Rakestraw already seems strong. After Arnold crashed Rakestraw’s postpractice press conference, Rakestraw had this to say about his new teammate: “Got the blood going a little bit. Got to be out there with Terrion. He’s a clown type of player, but he works extremely hard.”
Rounding out the Lions’ defensive picks is interior defender Mekhi Wingo from Louisiana State University, selected in the sixth round. His athletic 284-pound frame makes him a dangerous weapon against run offenses.
On the offensive side, two-way player Sione Vaki out of the University of Utah was a late-fourth-round pick and could be slotted at either running back or safety. Sixth-rounder Christian Mahogany (who has started the season on the injury list) is a powerful guard who allowed zero sacks during his final of three seasons at Boston College.
What do the veterans think? When Hour Detroit chatted with center Frank Ragnow in May, at an event for his Rags Remembered Foundation, he was a man of few words: “I trust Brad and Dan and just hope they come ready to work.”
One of the most important aspects of a successful season, according to Campbell, is the ability to maintain a sense of team identity.
That’s a key role for returning players like left tackle Taylor Decker, an eight-year veteran. When asked by Hour Detroit how the team has accomplished this, Decker says, “There’s no substitute for hard work. There’s no substitute for football. You can do all the speed drills you want, you can lift all the weights you want, but you still have to go out there to maintain it.”
Coming into his fourth year with the Lions, wide receiver Kalif Raymond will likely get the chance to expand his duties after Josh Reynolds’s departure. In a June 5 press conference, Campbell spoke highly of the often-overlooked utility player.
“He’s our Swiss Army knife. His versatility to play all the positions. He’s got real return ability, and he’s got speed,” Campbell said. “He’s a guy that will always have a place in our offense.”
After battling back injuries since his 2021 rookie season, defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike could have a breakout year. Campbell was pleased with his performance this spring, and following a healthy 2023 season and strong minicamp performance, Onwuzurike seems poised to take on a larger role this year.
With the sting of last year’s playoff loss still fresh, the Lions are going to come out swinging, especially with their first game against the Los Angeles Rams at home. “I want the whole enchilada!” Campbell said during minicamp when asked what he expects from this season.
The Lions have the 11th hardest schedule in the NFL (roughly the top third of all NFL teams), and five of those games will be on prime time. We predict that a solid veteran presence and productive offseason will propel the Lions to a 13-4 record and their first Super Bowl appearance.
Preseason Talk
“I don’t see bust; I see Super Bowl.”
— coach Dan Campbell on his goal for this season
“He [Campbell] knows that what could possibly hurt us is thinking we can show up week one and do it again. He’s been on us, and we’ve been on ourselves. We’re holding ourselves to a higher standard.”
— quarterback Jared Goff on managing expectations
“When we got a chance to meet the kid [Giovanni Manu], he’s a Lion. He’s built the way we want.”
— assistant general manager Ray Agnew when asked about the Lions’ decision to sign the offensive tackle from the CFL
“I don’t consider myself a cornerback; I just consider myself a defensive player. I can play anywhere on the field.”
—Terrion Arnold when asked what strengths he brings to the table
“I still don’t even feel like I got drafted. I just take it day by day and feel like a regular person. But when you put on the uniform, … I’m actually a Lion. That’s when you really feel it.”
— cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. on what it feels like to be in the NFL
“Wherever they put me on the field, I’ll be successful because at the end of the day, I’m a football player.”
— cornerback Amik Robertson about his ability to be flexible for the betterment of the team
This story originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on Sept. 6.
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