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<\/p>\nThe Lions made an early cornerback double-dip in the 2024 draft, but in a re-draft, they decide to take a different approach with the positional pair.<\/p>\n
To rebuild their cornerback depth chart, the Detroit Lions selected cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2024 draft. They traded The Lions made an early cornerback double-dip in the 2024 draft, but in a re-draft, they decide to take a different approach with from No. 29 to No. 24 to pick Terrion Arnold and then selected Ennis Rakestraw at No. 61 in the second round.<\/p>\n
Arnold had a mixed rookie season, with early penalty issues but improving later in the year. Rakestraw\u2019s debut was derailed by a hamstring injury, although he was on track to start before being sidelined during pre-game warmups.<\/p>\n
Both Arnold and Rakestraw are expected to show growth in their second year, but it\u2019s still too early to make any definitive judgments on their careers. However, the hindsight re-evaluation continues regardless of timing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ESPN used their NFL beat reporters for a re-draft of the 2024 draft, including two rounds without trades, posted on Tuesday. At pick No. 29, Lions ESPN reporter Eric Woodyard selected Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil instead of Arnold.<\/p>\n
Sainristil was picked by the Commanders in the second round (No. 50 overall) following a trade, and he had a stronger rookie season than Arnold.<\/p>\n
Context matters, though, as Arnold played more man coverage snaps (307) than any other cornerback, so it may be an exaggeration to say Sainristil would have been a better fit for the Lions.<\/p>\n
At pick No. 61, Woodyard opted for Tarheeb Still from Maryland instead of Rakestraw.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Chargers took Still in the fifth round (No. 137 overall), and one year in, he\u2019s looking like a major steal. Compared to Rakestraw\u2019s contributions, Still\u2019s performance stands out.<\/p>\n
The idea of Sainristil and Still as the cornerback double-pick for the Lions is intriguing. It\u2019s easier to suggest after both had strong rookie campaigns, especially when compared to Arnold and Rakestraw, who didn\u2019t meet the same standard in their first year. Such is the nature of re-drafting after just one season.<\/p>\n
That being said, hopefully, a year from now, the Lions’ original cornerback duo will have had a healthier and more successful second year, leading to a more positive conversation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Lions made an early cornerback double-dip in the 2024 draft, but in a re-draft, they decide to take a different approach with the positional pair. To rebuild their cornerback depth chart, the Detroit Lions selected cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2024 draft. They traded The Lions made an early cornerback double-dip […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[378],"tags":[2636,739],"class_list":["post-23989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detroit-lions","tag-mike-sainristil","tag-terrion-arnold"],"yoast_head":"\n