Brad Holmes has done it again.
The Detroit Lions moved up five spots in the first round Thursday night to land Alabama cornerback Tyrion Arnold with the 24th overall pick from the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft, hosted by downtown Detroit.
The crowd at Campus Martius, packed with home fans, cheered Arnold as he walked on stage to shake hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and hold up a new Honolulu Blue No. 1 jersey.
Instant class: The Lions' first-round trade for Alabama CB Terrion Arnold meets their biggest need
They chanted his name after he took the NFL Network's microphone and Talk to the crowd.
“Detroit, you're getting a star, man. Hey, I'm home, man, I'm home!” – Arnold shouted. “These fans are going to be crazy, Julie.
“I'm helping them win the Super Bowl. Listen to that!”
The Lions reportedly gave up the 29th pick and a third-round pick, No. 73 overall, in exchange for the 24th pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
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Holmes, in his fourth season as Lions general manager, has made 10 day trades and one first-round trade in three straight drafts.
Last year, Holmes fell from sixth to 12th 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 additional second-round pick on tight end Sam LaPorta. Both were key players in last season's historic playoff run.
In 2022, Holmes moved from No. 32 to No. 12 to acquire wide receiver Jameson Williams.
And on Thursday, he made another strong move from the No. 29 pick for Arnold, a player considered one of the best coverage linemen in the draft.
Lions coach Dan Campbell indicated in a radio interview on Wednesday that the Lions had a senior group of about 15 players they wanted in the first round. After that group, Campbell said there is another group of players who could “grow into” eventual starters.
The Lions entered the week with seven draft picks but only three of the first 164 picks. They have five more picks, most notably the 61st overall pick at the end of the second round on Friday, and then they don't have a pick until the fifth round on Saturday.
Common: NFL Draft experts love the Lions' selection of Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
The Lions also have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, with capable veteran players at every position.
Holmes said in his pre-draft press conference that roster construction gave the team more flexibility in the draft.
“We're trying to do the best we can in free agency in terms of filling holes and pulling the depth chart and doing all those things, and we feel like we've done a great job in free agency and we're in a position to move forward whatever direction we want to go,” he said. “So I feel more comfortable about making the list now. It's, yeah, it's less, “Oh, we really need this, we need depth here.” No, it's more. “It's equal, we've always said best player, but it's been emphasized even more now.”
more: Lions NFL draft picks history: Top 5 picks and worst 5 picks in the first round
Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on X and Instagram on @devperkit.
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