Discussion: Which Lions Day 2 or 3 pick will have the biggest Year 1 impact?

Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions had possibly their deepest roster in some time, so it was unlikely that the team would draft many (if any) immediate starters heading into the upcoming season. Luckily, on Day 1, they were able to address their biggest need at cornerback, trading up for Alabama corner Terrion Arnold, who projects to be a starter for the Lions opposite Carlton Davis III.

The rest of the class is littered with talent that will be instrumental to Detroit’s success down the road, though they may not start right away. Second-round pick, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., is another physical presence like Terrion Arnold and could easily see some playing time as a rookie considering how often the Lions deal with injuries in the secondary.

Giovanni Manu, a fourth-round pick that the Lions were ecstatic to trade up for, might have the toughest path out of the rookies in terms of seeing playing time in Year 1, but he’s a project with tons of upside and could find a role pretty early on as the Lions’ sixth OL in certain packages.

The Lions also traded up in the fourth round for Sione Vaki, a guy who can be best described simply as a “football player,” and has experience in all three phases as a safety/running back/special teams hybrid. It won’t be difficult for him to carve out a role as a rookie.

In the sixth round, the Lions drafted two “steals” according to consensus boards in defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo, and offensive guard Christian Mahogany. Wingo likely has an easier path to seeing playing time as a rookie being a rotational defensive tackle than Mahogany does as a reserve interior lineman, but anything can happen.

Today’s Question of the Day is…

Aside from Terrion Arnold, which Lions rookie will have the biggest Year 1 impact?

My answer: Sione Vaki.

Without the injuries piling up, Vaki has the easiest path to some early playing time as a rookie, specifically as a special teamer. Brad Holmes described Vaki as “one of the better special teamers in this entire draft” and has experience in all four phases of special teams. I also really like the potential of Vaki playing in the C.J. Moore role that the team has used in the past with fake punts and trick plays.

I can easily see guys like Rakestraw Jr. and Wingo getting their opportunity to make an impact as rookies, too, because we’ve seen the injuries pile up with this team. Guys like Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey in the secondary, and Quinton Bohanna or Tyson Alualu on the defensive line all got their opportunities at some point last year. It happens all the time, and now the Lions’ roster continues to get more talented with their depth. Training camp couldn’t come any sooner.

Let’s hear from you. Make sure to drop your thoughts and your answers in the comments below.