The Detroit Lions spent a lot of resources to beef up their secondary during the 2024 offseason, and one of their many moves on that front involved drafting cornerback Terrion Arnold in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Penalties have been an issue for Arnold early on in his career, but his coverage stats are solid. The Alabama product has given up completions on 58.3% of the passes thrown his way, and he sports a passer rating against of 94.0.
One thing missing from Arnold's stat line is interceptions. However, Arnold believes it's just a matter of time before he gets one, and he also thinks they're going to come in bunches once he breaks the seal.
"When my picks come, they're gonna come in bunches," Arnold said, according to Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket. "So I don't really worry about it. I just worry about being in the right position, being in the run fit. Even if the quarterback looks my way, he’s scared to pull it, he pulls back off, and then it forces a sack, I’m fine with that. I know at the end of the day, when I come in here, what my job is.
"And I ain’t ever been one to seek validation from others. Some people glorify stuff like that, they’re like, 'If people ain’t giving me my praise, then I ain’t doing it right.’ I know what I’m doing. I know when I’m on the backside, by myself, it’s locked up."
Arnold also feels like there's one thing that separates him from the rest of the rookies at his position in the NFL.
"I think the one thing that separates me from most rookies is I literally go out there and play man-to-man coverage every game, on wide receiver 1's," he said. "We’re not sitting back there playing zone, cover-4, cover-3. When we line up, we in press-man. And you know we in press-man, so when it comes time to games, it’s like, 'OK, you versus me.'"
There is no question that the Lions' secondary is playing at a higher level than last year's group. Arnold has played a part in that, as has fellow cornerback and offseason addition Carlton Davis.
Adding to those two, slot cornerback Amik Robertson has been solid, and the elite play of safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch has also made a major difference.
When you put it all together, Arnold believes that the Lions have have the best group in the league.
"I feel like we're the best secondary in the NFL," he said. "We’ve been proving it. All you gotta do is cut on the tape from last year and cut on the tape this year. On top of that, it's just our mentality. We done bought in. (Aaron Glenn's) always been this type of coach (to play man coverage), he's always wanted to do this. Now he’s just got the guys (to do it)."
"I love it," Arnold added. "I mean, this defense is gonna get me paid, for real. When you cut on the tape, you’re like, 'OK, he’s a rookie, he’s backside, the safety’s in the run fit, he’s by himself.' Nobody else is doing that."
Arnold's rookie season certainly hasn't been perfect, but he has been impressive and is showing more than enough to be excited about his future and what he can become once he gets more experience under his belt.
