The NFL Draft is an unnerving time for all veterans, but that was especially true for Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold. After two seasons filled with injuries and inconsistent performance, Arnold was one of the more intriguing veterans to watch heading into draft weekend, as his declaration about his health was looking to sell the team on not adding competition for his third season.
The Lions did add a corner, selecting Arizona State’s Keith Abney in the fifth round. But while he mainly played on the outside during his collegiate career, the post-draft comments from general manager Brad Holmes suggest Detroit sees his future in the slot.
“You’ve got to do a lot of things at that nickel spot,” Holmes said via The Detroit Free Press’s Dave Birkett, who added that Holmes sees toughness and instincts in Abney that translate to the slot. “Yeah, you want speed to be able to match vertically, but you want a guy that has a little bit more short-area rudeness just to handle the two-way goes and to be able to get off the spot. But there’s a lot of run action coming at you, too, at that spot. So he’s going to be just fine.”
Birkett noted that Holmes said “that won’t hinder Abney’s ability to play outside,” but it also means that his direct competition will be free-agent addition Roger McCreary. If that’s the case, Arnold not only gets the opportunity to prove himself, but also walks out of the NFL Draft unscathed as he looks forward to 2026.
Lions’ Draft Class Gives Terrion Arnold Massive Opportunity in 2026
The Lions had a good reason to add competition for Arnold next season. Through his first two seasons, Arnold has allowed 83 catches for 1,123 yards and six touchdowns with an interception and 13 pass breakups on 139 targets per Pro Football Focus. He also has committed 16 penalties (three declined) during that time and saw his 2025 season get cut short due to a shoulder injury.
In a league where availability matters just as much as talent, the Lions could have added some depth to protect themselves. While they did that with the Abney selection, it may not matter if he goes to the slot position. That would leave Arnold in the same spot he was last year with Nick Whiteside, Rock Ya-Sin, and Khalil Dorsey as his main competition, which means Arnold doesn’t have a lot to worry about for his starting spot next season.
If anything, that validates the words of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. While he still expressed optimism over his long-term outlook, he also mentioned, “I need him to be quiet and just play” via SI’s John Maakaron.
“That kid has a great heart,” Sheppard continued. “Man, he wants to be great. But I told him it’s a difference in talking about being great and actually being great. And he’s starting to understand that.”
Arnold spent draft week declaring he’s in excellent shape after injuries wrecked his 2025 season. And with little competition behind him, the runway is cleared for a third-year takeoff. It’s now on him to take advantage.
More Detroit Lions News & Rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google