What's your draft grade?

The War Room Detroit Lions — The Den
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Obviously, no one here is going to hate this draft we all love us some BH, and DC…lol I trust those guys 100%. In 30+ years this is the first time I’ve had that trust. Such a weird, but great feeling.

In no way am I hating on this draft. But as a fan, and just having fun, I do have my opinions.

For me, there’s never enough bigs. There’s never a year I don’t hope for DL early. Give me DT’s, and DE’s all day. I’m all about IDL. Alim is our only real pass rushing DT. This team needs to upgrade the pass rush.

Round 1 - Terrion Arnold. IMO (and a lot of peoples opinion) the best CB in this class. Not just that, I love his style. He has lockdown ability. That rare shut down corner eliminate half of the field potential. I don’t see that with the other CB’s. Despite his 4.5 40 he’s super athletic, and a play-maker. Without a doubt worth a 3rd round pick. He also fills a big need. When you listen to the guy talk, he is a gem! Murphy was 1 on my draft board. Arnold was 2. GRADE A+

Round 2 - Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Really love the player. I think he has legit CB1 potential. Would have been very happy if he was pick 29. I compared him to Devin Witherspoon. But I’m just not happy with doubling down on CB’s. That CB room is crowded. Maybe a late round pick to develop, Unless he Brian Branches everyone, he looks like a special teamer to start. Too high of a pick for that. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. GRADE B+

Round 4 - OT Giovanni Manu. I told @Nate if they at least get some late picks on some BroMart type developmental freaks I’ll be happy with the CB double down. They got the BroMart of the OL. Who knows what will happen with Taylor Decker. GG isn’t the long term answer. Zeitler is a rental, and who knows about Ragnow. Adding to the OL, and keeping it the strength of this team is good. He’ll be worth the 3rd round pick if he becomes special obviously, but it’s a high risk. Same high risk as Brodric. GRADE B.

Round 4 - RB/S Sione Vaki. I know nothing about this guy. Props to you guys who had him on your boards. I’m not sure how to evaluate a player who doesn’t have a full-time position. He seems to be a Brad Holmes “we draft good football players” player. Super tough. Could be a special teams ace. I remember many years ago the Chargers were #1 on offense, and #1 on defense, but last in special teams, and they didn’t make the playoffs. I don’t have a real opinion on him until I see him play. GRADE C+

Round 6 - DT Mekhi Wingo. Finally! The DT I was hoping for. Great value. Maybe the James Houston of DT’s. His pass rush moves is very Houston. I’m good even if he’s just a pass rush specialist for 3rd down packages. But small for a DT. The good is if he can play edge. Still short, and not ideal length for a DE. But I’m a big fan of big DE’s. Props to you guys again who had him on your boards. GRADE A-

Round 6 - G Christian Mahogany. Same thing with Manu. Adding to the OL is great. OG’s are ALWAYS great value. Great OG’s can be found later in drafts. He fell, and there’s reasons for it. Brad even mentioned it. Maybe medical concerns? Raw, but a beat your ass culture fit player. Great value. Again, props to you guys who called it. Some of you killed this draft. GRADE A.

Look, I get it with the double down on CB’s so high. The play that will haunt us for a long time is the Aiyuk doink off helmet catch with AG saying WTF on the sideline. Cam Sutton was terrible. Lucky he wasn’t called for PI when he tugged Puca’s jersey that could have cost us that game. But they had NOTHING else. Their outside CB’s were ghosts. It’s really hard to find top CB’s in this league, and their development usually takes time. So, I can’t fault Brad for making sure that shish never happens again. Arnold, and Rake have CB1 potential. Maybe even better.

Overall GRADE A- wish they would have drafted a DE.

Thanks for reading.

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incomplete

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Hard to grade the draft right after (Think most draft grades are stupid in general tbh, look at last year, some hated our draft, and it was one of the best in the NFL and Brad Holmes won Executive of the Year from it.)

But if we are grading based on Value and Need sure lets get into it:

Terion Arnold: One of the best CB’s in the class, was on 1b on my board to Mitchell who I had as 1a (I even said i think Mitchell would be drafted ahead of Arnold, and it actually happend lol). Traded a 3rd to get him, but considering his drop cause of the absolute run on offesnive players in the first, cannot argue with it, considering GB, Card, and Bucs were all up to bat, and they needed CB help badly aswell.
Rank A

Ennis Rakestraw Jr: I would say argue, but I do think the most polarizing pick on this board. In terms of value he was late first, early second in every mock, so getting him at 61 is fantastic value. I do think hes a more boom or bust pick then Arnold, but considering our CB situation last year, can never have enough DB’s.
Rank: A-

Giovanni Manu: Very interesting pick from Holmes. Trades a 2025 3rd, which has really soured alot of people on this pick considering he was looked at as a 6th rounder in most mock. Dude does have a raw athletic profile, very much a freak in that regard, but played against lesser competion. He fits a need (Swing tackle), and if he can hit his ceiling, could be Decker’s replacement depending how things go, but i wont lie, little iffy about that value given up.
Rank C-

Sione Vaki: The most MCDC player ever. one of the most unqiue prospects in the draft, can play in all 3 phases (RB, S, KR), and will likely split time in all 3 roles, with the primary designation likely being RB, but hes great Safety depth and I see him being our KR now with the new rules. Payed a bit to trade up to him, he could have been there in the 5th, but i dont think it’s as egregious as the Manu trade
Rank: B

Mekhi Wingo: I didn’t expect him to fall like this, not complaining though. Undersized at his position, but dude is the James Houstion of the DL group, expect him in Nascar packages, and potentially a Levi replacement (though I think we keep Levi fro another year.) Could develop into a true starter if he cleans up a couple things, great value pick all around.
Rank A

Christian Mahogany: Similar to Wingo, fell from the 3rd/4th to the 6th for reasons unknown to us (Could be his stance scared teams off of him). Regardless he could actually start in some lines today in the NFL, and is now an excellent backup that can sit and develop for next year ( I think he can start over Sorsdal, think Sorsdal needs a bit more time) Excellent Pick
Rank A+

Overall Grade: A-/B+, between those two ranks, being wishy washy on it, but I think the Manu trade up given value and everything pushes it down, but again, give it a couple years, and we can get a better grade on this class.

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Just too hard and unreliable to grade the draft at this point. What turned a very good draft into a great one in 2021 was getting ASB. At that point no one knew what he could be. Likewise, none of us has any idea what these rookies can become. All we have right now is positional villain (just to rile up a couple of posters) and draft capital. Did we reach for Manure or will he be the steal of the draft? If he’s a HOFer the draft goes down as an A+ but if he busts it could be a C.

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CB was by far our biggest need so I would give them an A just on our first 2 picks. Then we added depth on both lines later in the draft.

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Overall grade: B

I really like that we picked up two CBs who should start from 2025 to 2027 and hopefully beyond. I also really like that we picked up two OL as both depth and potential future starters.

I don’t like that we only made six picks, and while the Vaki pick is fun I would have preferred some depth at safety or an edge rusher.

Overall, I really know jack shit, but in terms of what I wanted to see before the draft, it’s good but it hasn’t hit everything. I couldn’t possibly offer any opinions on how good each player is.

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A- .

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Vaki plays safety too

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I wasn’t sure on the replay of the Lions draft room, but was that Fraley in the back woopin it up over the pick? He was one happy man, so the onus is on him to develop this raw specimen. But damn, he is the Rock reincarnate. One huge dude, and hope he turns into Decker’s replacement in a few years. He’s got time.

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I do agree that grading drafts is a little silly. No one knows jack until at least 3 years from now. But it’s just having fun. Expressing ourselves as fans. I do love the mentality BH, and DC have when they want to get their guys.

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I like this draft overall, it follows how I prefer to draft… Skill positions up top and big uglies later on. They got two top 40 players and some developmental players in the trenches. This is a good roster and finding rookies to contribute year one is going to be more difficult. I really like Mahogany, I think he has starting potential. We also now have 3 young CBs under contract past 2024, which is good if they don’t/can’t resign Davis or Moseley. Overall, a couple good immediate impact players and some guys who can contribute down the road… I’m satisfied.

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I know that, but he won’t in the pros. There isn’t enough time in the day for a player to practice full time and attend meetings on both sides of the ball. Vaki is a special teamer first, a RB second, and he might moonlight at safety if we’re short of bodies.

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He’s just the ultimate sycophant.

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Would it change your mind if you knew he was rooming with Jack Fox?

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Guess we’ll see…

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Only move I didn’t like was trading a 3rd next year for an OT who probably would have lasted until their 5th round pick.

Other than that, guess we will see. I’m happy.

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Ugh… not a very flattering overview.

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Agreed lol

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Grade = B

Brad said something in his presser that I’ve been saying for some time leading up to the draft. We just don’t have that many roster spots available. It’s going to be harder and harder for our draft picks to actually start their rookie seasons.

We are now in a position to draft for NEXT season. We have serious competition for starting CB slot this upcoming camp. I think we are all hoping Davis locks up one spot but the other is no gimme for Arnold. Mosely, if healthy, is going to compete hard for that starting job. Amik has starting experience and this is his 5th season.

Hoping that Arnold works his way up to starter at some point in the season and Ennis starter next year.

Manu = possible next year but more than likely 2026 starter

Vaki = ST guy so could be starter from that perspective. Going to be a battle for that #3 RB spot.

Wingo = may make it into the rotation at some point in the season but likely hoping he’s in the rotation for 2025.

Mahogany = Boston College O-line are usually coached well. I expect him to have a shot at being a active player on game day at some point this season. (we have some serious age at OG).

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It’s good stuff man, but I don’t know how you can start a review with this:

And then end it with this:

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