NFL

Rakestraw, 5 feet, 11 inches and 183 pounds is another man coverage corner as Detroit shores up the defensive backfield.

"I was so happy last night I slept with my hat on, man," Arnold said. "One pride. Went to sleep last night a Lion, woke up a Lion. One pride, let's get to work."

When the Detroit Lions' first round draft pick was announced, the crowd, estimated to be hundreds of thousands strong, let out a roar fitting for the franchise.

"I never thought he would be there, but we are thrilled," said General Manager Brad Holmes.

Experts analyzing the Lions seem to have drilled down on the following position groups - defensive back, defensive line or offensive line.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions have heavily invested in their future, keeping a pair of All-Pro players under contract for the next five seasons.

Sewell, 23, was the first draft pick in the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell era, chosen seventh overall in 2021.

The Detroit Lions have made Amon-Ra St. Brown the higehst paid wide receiver in the NFL with a massive new contract.

The draft - thanks to the soaring popularity of the NFL over the years, has become a sports calendar fixture and pop culture reference in commercials and movies. But it wasn't always that way.

If a trade goes down - Lions fans gathered downtown to watch the event first-hand - might not get to see a pick at all.

“Cornerback was already a priority for Detroit prior to the release of Cam Sutton and it now feels like an early must-have in the draft," writes ESPN's Field Yates.

Historically speaking, the number 29 spot of the first round hasn't produced many stars, as much as productive starters - and a couple of flat-out busts.

But the best was saved for last - a show-stopping blue helmet with graphite Lion logo on the side to pair with the alternate jersey.