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Lions draft class rookie grades for 2024-25 regular season

Grading the Detroit Lions rookie class from the 2024 NFL Draft and how they performed as rookies

The Detroit Lions suddenly found themselves relying significantly less on rookies in 2024-25 on their way to the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

The Lions had a much quieter 2024 draft class. Only a couple of rookies played consistently throughout the regular season, a stark contrast from last season which saw the rise of Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta and Jack Campbell.

In a season marred by injury, the team needed every healthy body they could get onto the field, but that didn’t necessarily translate to all of their rookies getting much playing time.

Let’s take a look at how the Lions’ rookies did during the regular season.

Terrion Arnold

The rookie with the most complete resume this season is their first-round pick.

Arnold played in 15 games at cornerback, starting all but one of those. With injuries decimating the Lions defense, he quickly became a key part of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s schemes.

Arnold’s rookie season started out rocky — stacking up eight penalties in his first eight games. However, he’s only had three penalties called against him since Week 4, and has become a middle-of-the-pack corner which is more than the Lions could ask for following the season-ending injury to Carlton Davis.

Grade: B+

Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

The Lions took Rakestraw with their second-round pick in 2024 in an effort to keep building up their secondary.

Rakestraw played in eight games, but mainly on special teams before he was injured in November. He’d managed six total tackles on the season before being placed on Injured Reserve.

Given the current state of the Lions defense, it’s fair to say he could’ve gotten a few opportunities late in the season. However, it certainly hasn’t been the rookie season he would’ve hoped for to this point.

Grade: D

Giovanni Manu

The Lions came into 2024 with one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

Unfortunately for 4th-round pick Giovanni Manu, that means a lot of time on the bench.

The Lions traded up in the draft to get Manu, however the presence of Dan Skipper even while Taylor Decker was out kept the rookie out of the lineup. With Skipper’s contract future up in the air for next season, 2025 may lead to more opportunities for Manu.

Grade: Incomplete

Sione Vaki

Another stacked position for the Lions is running back — not leaving much room for Vaki at this point.

He’s played primarily on special teams, but has gotten a few carries in blowout wins against the Jaguars and Cowboys. With Craig Reynolds as the primary third-string back, Vaki won’t be able to carve out much of a role in the offense.

However, he has gotten some consistent playing time on special teams, which is more than some rookies can say.

Grade: C-

Mekhi Wingo

The Lions have been desperate for help along the defensive line this season, but Wingo is one of many who finished the season on Injured Reserve.

Wingo was in the midst of breaking into significant playing time as a backup for DJ Reader before he went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 13’s win over the Bears. He finished his season with nine total tackles.

In limited opportunities, he made enough of an impact to earn a grade for his season, but he’ll certainly be looking for a bounce-back season in 2025.

Grade: D+

Christian Mahogany

Despite the strength of the Lions’ offensive line, sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany managed to get into the game in some meaningful spots during the regular season.

Mahogany played in seven games this season and made one key start in Week 16 to fill in for injured left guard Graham Glasgow against the Bears.

“It was solid,” head coach Dan Campbell said after the win. “[Mahogany] did some really good things, so there’s certainly something to continue to work with there and improve.”

Glasgow returned the following week and knocked Mahogany back down the depth chart, but the performance showed significant growth and the trust the coaches have in the rookie to step in when necessary.

Grade: C+

All but one member of the Broncos’ draft class made 53-man roster

“Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season, but we like the class so far,” Broncos GM George Paton said.

Six of the seven rookies the Denver Broncos picked in the 2024 NFL draft have made the team’s initial 53-man roster. The only exception was offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, who was sidelined for much of training camp and preseason due to injury.

Quarterback Bo Nix, pass rusher Jonah Elliss, wide receiver Troy Franklin, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, running back Audric Estime and receiver Devaughn Vele all made the active roster.

Three undrafted free agent signees — running back Blake Watson, offensive tackle Frank Crum and linebacker Levelle Bailey — also made the squad.

“We’re encouraged by the rookie class, both the draft picks and the free agents,” Broncos general manager George Paton said during a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday. “I think it’s nine total is what you said, we just got done. It’s a credit to our personnel departments and our sports performance with the development of these players. Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season, but we like the class so far.

“Jonah Elliss is everything we saw in college. [He] plays with his hair on fire and he obviously can rush the passer. He’s gotten better in the run game and he’s gotten stronger, so we like the track that he’s on. Troy Franklin, you see the talent every day. [He’s] a work in progress as a receiver, but he’s learning. You see the speed and the playmaking. We see it in practice. He’s coming on as is Audric Estime. Estime, we liked. He’s strong, he’s big, he’s powerful, he can catch and he can protect.

“Then Kris Abrams-Draine, he was probably the slowest starter in the offseason — a little behind the group. Then he’s caught up quickly as we got through camp and as we got through the games. [He got] more confidence and more playmaking ability. We feel like he’s game-ready if he has to play. [We’re] really encouraged with him.

“Then Vele is mature, as we know. [He] plays like it and plays like a pro. [We] feel like he can play in a game in Seattle if he has too. We like him as well. [With] Gargiulo, just a small sample size.”

Gargiulo figures to have a good chance to make the 17-player practice squad. We will track all of the team’s moves today on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos’ draft picks represented 8th-best value in 2024 class

Despite “reaching” for Bo Nix in the first round, the Broncos still ended up with the eighth-best value of picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

Last year, the Denver Broncos’ draft picks represented the seventh-best value in the 2023 class. The results were similar this year.

Denver’s 2024 draft class represented the eighth-best value this spring, according to analysis from Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com.

best value 2024 NFL draft classes

1. Lions
2. Dolphins
3. Chiefs
4. Steelers
5. Eagles
6. Saints
7. Ravens
8. Broncos
9. Vikings
10. Rams

see pic for 1-32 plus methodology

READ FOR FULL ANALYSIS:https://t.co/nIqmEa50Rm

team-by-team & round-by-round analysis to follow pic.twitter.com/7civLHt5zD

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 27, 2024

The team picking quarterback Bo Nix at No. 12 overall was considered a reach, but the team found great value with wide receiver Troy Franklin (No. 102), cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (No. 145) and running back Audric Estime (No. 147).

Broncos coach Sean Payton revealed last month that the team had a second-round grade on pass rusher Jonah Elliss, who they picked in the third round. Denver also had higher grades on Franklin (second), Estime (third) and Abrams-Draine (third) than where they ended up picking them.

Based on their in-house grading system, the Broncos had some amazing value picks fall to them during the draft in April. Sharp’s analysis agrees with that assessment — at least after the Nix pick.

Fans in Denver will get their first look at those rookies when the Broncos begin training camp next week. The team will have 16 open practices this summer.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton encouraged by rookie class ahead of camp

“I was encouraged with this class,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of the team’s 2024 rookies.

The Denver Broncos made seven picks in the 2024 NFL draft this spring. The team’s most notable selection was first-round quarterback Bo Nix, but the four players Denver picked after him are also notable.

The Broncos had higher round grades on pass rusher Jonah Ellis, wide receiver Troy Franklin, running back Audric Estime and cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine than where they ended up falling on draft day, according to coach Sean Payton.

“You try not to be an instant evaluator, but I would say that I was encouraged,” Payton said when asked about the progress of the team’s rookies in June. “I was encouraged after the draft because with each of these selections — and it doesn’t always fall this way — but after Bo, we are then in the third round taking a player Elliss, who we had a second-round grade on. Then we get to the fourth round, and we have a second-round grade on Troy.

“[In t]he fifth round, we have two third-round grades on the runner Estime and Abrams-Draine and so on, even to our seventh rounders. That doesn’t always happen. Obviously, it can’t happen if you don’t have a lot of picks, but we were close to our normal number of picks again. Then the validation that they belong, you get to see the early first impressions. Then we hold reservations until we get the pads. I was encouraged with this class.”

As Payton noted, true evaluations won’t begin until training camp starts next week, but the early signs were promising this spring. The coach is clearly pleased with the rookie class going into camp.

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Every member of the Broncos’ draft class made 53-man roster

The Broncos’ five draft picks this year all made the 53-man roster.

Every member of the Denver Broncos’ 2023 NFL draft class has made the team’s 53-man roster, a feat that is easier to accomplish with a small class.

Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims (second round) is poised to serve as the team’s WR3 this season while also returning punts and kickoffs.

Inside linebacker Drew Sanders (third round) is expected to have a rotational role on defense while also filling a key role on special teams.

Cornerback Riley Moss (third round) is still recovering from core muscle surgery, but he will be part of the secondary rotation once healthy.

Safety JL Skinner (sixth round) is buried on the depth chart in a deep secondary, but he figures to contribute on special teams as a rookie.

Center Alex Forsyth (seventh round) will likely have a limited role as a rookie, but he projects as a potential future starter on the interior offensive line.

So far, so good for the 2023 draft class.

Broncos’ drafted rookies pick jersey numbers

Broncos rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims has picked jersey No. 83.

The Denver Broncos announced jersey numbers for their five-player draft class on Thursday.

Here they are:

37 CB Riley Moss
41 LB Drew Sanders
46 DB JL Skinner
76 OL Alex Forsyth
83 WR Marvin Mims

Keep in mind that these numbers are subject to change, and some of them likely will change when Denver reduces the roster from 90 players down to 53 players later this summer.

The Broncos have not yet officially announced their undrafted free agent signings. Once those UDFA deals become official, those rookie jersey numbers will be announced as well.

Denver previously announced jersey numbers for veteran additions:

4 QB Jarrett Stidham
11 WR Marquez Callaway
17 WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
19 P Riley Dixon
20 FB Michael Burton
23 CB Tremon Smith
25 RB Samaje Perine
26 RB Tony Jones Jr.
55 C Kyle Fuller
69 T Mike McGlinchey
70 T Isaiah Prince
74 G Ben Powers
82 TE Adam Trautman
84 TE Chris Manhertz
90 DL Jordan Jackson
99 DE Zach Allen

Defensive lineman D.J. Jones (from 97 to 92) and quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (from 11 to 16) previously changed their numbers as well.

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Projected contracts for each member of the Broncos’ draft class

The Broncos’ draft class will take up about $3.2 million worth of cap space this offseason. Here are projected contracts for each player.

The Denver Broncos added five players to their roster through the 2023 NFL draft last month. Thanks to the structure of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with players, we have a rough idea of what kind of contracts each member of the team’s draft class will receive.

All four players will receive four-year deals. None of them will have a fifth-year option because the Broncos did not have a first-round pick this year.

Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims (second round, 63rd overall) is projected to receive a contract worth $6,068,635, according to Spotrac.com. He’s expected to get a signing bonus worth around $1,413,552.

Linebacker Drew Sanders (third round, 63rd overall) is expected to earn $5,734,727 with a $1,170,711 signing bonus. Cornerback Riley Moss (third round, 83rd overall) will receive roughly $5,447,488 with a $961,809 signing bonus.

Safety JL Skinner (sixth round, 183rd overall) will have a total contract value of $4,036,219 with $196,219 as a signing bonus. Finally, center Alex Forsyth (seventh round, 257th overall) is expected to receive a $3,917,777 contract with a $77,777 signing bonus.

Combined, those players are expected to take up about $3,205,017 in salary cap space this offseason.

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Broncos will invite veterans to try out at rookie minicamp

The Broncos will have four groups of players at rookie minicamp: Drafted rookies, UDFA signings, rookie tryout players and veteran tryouts.

The Denver Broncos will have plenty of bodies on the field when they hold a rookie minicamp next week.

In addition to the five members of their draft class and 16 undrafted free agent signees, the Broncos are also inviting at least 12 rookies on a tryout basis as well as several veteran players.

“There’ll be some tryout players at that camp,” coach Sean Payton said after the NFL draft last week. “There’ll be some veteran tryout players. Let’s call it four different groups of players: draft picks, signed free agents, tryout free agents and veteran tryouts.”

Undrafted players often face long odds to make the 53-man roster, and tryout players face an even tougher uphill battle. But once they get an opportunity, any player can stand out and impress Denver’s coaching staff.

“[O]nce they’re sitting in that meeting room, how they arrived is of no importance to us at that point,” Payton said. “We’re playing the best players. … I think it’s important for every one of them. They’ll all have a piece of tape on the front of their helmet with their last name, and we’re just going to go by what we see.”

So far, we know the names of two veterans — running back Jacques Patrick and outside linebacker Trent Harris, who were standout players in the XFL this spring. More names will likely be added to the list in the coming days.

The Broncos are expected to hold rookie minicamp from May 12-15.

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Breaking down Packers roster following 2023 draft, UDFA signings

Breaking down the Packers’ roster, position by position, following the 2023 draft and undrafted free agent signings.

The Green Bay Packers added 25 new players to the roster during the 2023 draft and college free agency: 13 draft picks and 12 undrafted free agent signings.

The roster is now up to 88 players, allowing room for a veteran signing or two or even a signing of a rookie tryout player or two in the coming weeks and months before training camp.

How does the Packers roster look following the biggest roster-building event of the offseason?

Here’s a breakdown, position by position, following the 2023 draft and undrafted free agent signings: