Make-or-Break 2026: The entire Lions' 2024 Draft Class looks to be on thin ice in Detroit
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Make-or-Break 2026: The entire Lions' 2024 Draft Class looks to be on thin ice in Detroit
uOct 5, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a pass through the arms of Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Mike Payton·AtoZ Sports
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4 min read
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Detroit Lions2024 draft class looks like it's heading into a make-or-break 2026 season, with nearly every pick facing serious roster questions in Detroit and pressure mounting on a group that hasn't fully established itself yet.
This April, the Detroit Lions had a really good draft. It felt like a return to form for Brad Holmes, who really nailed his first three drafts and then had a really questionable 2024 class.
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The draft is a crapshoot at the end of the day. You pick guys who all your resources point to the idea of them being good, and then you still have to get them playing in actual NFL games to see if the resources were right.
Right now, it looks like their entire 2024 draft class is on thin ice, and this is going to be a make-or-break year for them. Let's really dig in and talk about each guy.
Don't listen to the revisionist history people. When the Lions selected Arnold, he was almost unanimously considered to be the best cornerback in this draft, and the only reason Detroit got him is because the league unexpectedly went offense in the first half of the draft, pushing him down to a point where the Lions could move up to get him.
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He had a really up-and-down rookie year and then missed most of his second season with an injury. But in the mix of all that, he played really well at times and absolutely looked like a first-rounder. If he can stay healthy in 2026 and show that great play again, then it's all good. If he can't, I don't know how much longer this lasts.
I know a lot of fans are ready to call him a bust because he's been injured and missed his first two seasons, but I'm not ready to do that unless I see that he can't do it for a third year or that he does get on the field and shows he's not good at football. There is a ton of external pressure on this guy right now. He has to show something in 2026.
I have to be completely honest. I don't see any way the Lions can come out on the other side of this one looking good unless Manu is somehow able to turn into a legitimate swing this summer and beat outLarry Borom. Anything less than that, and I'm not sure he's on the roster this year. Maybe he's on the practice squad. This pick just didn't turn out the way the Lions had hoped.
Sometimes it makes you wonder why the Lions didn't just let Vaki play safety. They drafted him to play running back but put him in a situation he could realistically never win. How do you beat outJahmyr GibbsandDavid Montgomery? Now, withIsiah Pachecoin town, Vaki is still behind the eight ball. He'll always have a spot because he's a really good special teams player, but we may never see him as an actual running back in the league.
He felt like a major steal at the time, but the Lions haven't really used him a lot. Last year, he was a healthy scratch most of the season. There's a real shot for him to find his footing this year because, beyondTyleik WilliamsandAlim McNeill, it's pretty wide open on the interior.
He was the Lions' starting left guard when healthy last season, and there was some decent play in the run game ahead of the injury, but he struggled in pass protection the entire year. At this point, I can't tell you with any certainty that he is the starter at left guard going into the 2026 season.
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He has to compete withMiles Frazier,Juice Scruggs,Ben Bartch, andMichael Niese. Frazier could be a real threat here. He played fairly well in relief last year. We're going to have to wait to see what happens at training camp.
