The Detroit Lions are optimistic about their 2024 first-round pick, cornerback Terrion Arnold, who was selected out of Alabama. Despite a mixed first season in the NFL after the Lions traded up to draft him, Arnold showed potential. He earned a starting spot from the start of training camp, which placed him in tough matchups against some of the league’s top receivers within Detroit’s press-man coverage system.
Arnold finished his rookie year with a 50.8 overall Pro Football Focus defensive grade and a 50.2 coverage grade. As a first-year player, he became a target for opposing quarterbacks, and his physical style led to penalties early on. He was flagged for seven pass interference penalties and a total of 11 penalties throughout the season. However, by Week 14, his penalty count slowed down, and he showed improvement as the season progressed.
This growth, combined with his strong confidence, has the Lions believing in Arnold’s potential to become a standout corner. General manager Brad Holmes noted that Arnold seemed to settle in as the year went on and has the foundation to keep improving.
“Yeah, he just has to continue to work on his fundamentals from a technique standpoint. He’s wired right, he’s got the right attitude,” Holmes said. “He took some lumps early, had some aggressive penalties early in the year. I did think the waters kind of calmed halfway through. He’s a very coachable player, he cares, he’s passionate, he’s prideful.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Arnold may have an even bigger role, especially with uncertainty surrounding Carlton Davis’ future with the team. While Davis is a physical man coverage corner, his contract may exceed what the Lions are willing to pay, leaving Arnold as a possible candidate to step into a lead role, potentially competing with Amik Robertson for the top spot. If Arnold refines his technique and reduces penalties, he has significant upside that new Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard could help unlock.
“He’s gonna do the necessary things to continue — he wants to be a great player,” Holmes said. “We want him to be a great player. I have no doubt that he’s gonna continue to develop. I thought Deshea did a great job with him, and I expect no different. Got a lot of excitement for Terrion.”