Pros and cons of Detroit Lions picking Alabama football’s Terrion Arnold in 2024 NFL Draft
Terrion Arnold is officially an NFL rookie after being picked by the Detroit Lions in the 2024 NFL draft.
Arnold becomes the latest defensive back to have played for Nick Saban to hear his name called. Prior to 2023, 25 Alabama defensive backs had been selected in the draft after playing under Saban.
Arnold is a cornerback from Tallahassee, Florida, having played for John Paul II Catholic school. He also shined as a basketball player in high school but stuck with football.
Here's what Arnold brings to the Lions, based on his career with Alabama football.
TERRION ARNOLD: The best Terrion Arnold stories, as shared by his Alabama football teammates
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What Terrion Arnold brings to xpro teamx in 2024 NFL Draft
Arnold is an athletic cornerback with impressive ball skills who’s not afraid to tackle or make plays in the run game. He’s got a big personality, and he makes the plays to back it up. He was a safety in high school, but he transitioned to cornerback in college. In 2021, he redshirted. Then, after an up-and-down season in 2022 at the position, he became one of the nation’s best players in 2023. Arnold went from a benching his first season playing cornerback to becoming an elite corner in 2023. As a result, he was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. He also received second-team All-America honors from multiple outlets.
Terrion Arnold highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Alabama football
Arnold tied the SEC lead for interceptions and passes defended in 2023. He picked off a number of passes in big games, including against LSU, Ole Miss and Auburn; he had two interceptions against Auburn, one in the first half and one in the second. Arnold’s second interception in that game sealed the win for Alabama right after the famous fourth-and-31 touchdown from Jalen Milroe to Isaiah Bond. Arnold almost returned that interception for a touchdown as time expired. His ball skills, agility and speed are among his best attributes. Arnold doesn't have many weaknesses, but consistency will be key to further develop his game.
Terrion Arnold stats with Alabama football
2023: 63 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 5 INT, 12 PD; 2022: 45 tackles, 1 FR, 1 INT, 8 PD
Terrion Arnold NFL comparison
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared Arnold to Marshon Lattimore. Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrar made the same comparison.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Lions draft Terrion Arnold in 2024 NFL Draft: Pros, cons of pick
