The city of Detroit has been buzzing this month. If you wanted to get more specific, the city has been buzzing in the last couple of days. The Motor City has seen two major contract extensions, and new uniform reveals, as well as being the host of the 2024 NFL Draft. It is an exciting time to be a Detroit sports fan and that is something fans have been waiting to hear for quite some time.
Here are the major events that have happened in Detroit that Lions fans can celebrate!
Significant Player Extensions
On April 24, 2024, the Detroit Lions announced that they were extending the contracts of WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and OT Penei Sewell. Amon-Ra St. Brown’s contract is a four-year extension, taking him into 2028, worth $120 million. Penei Sewell’s contract takes him into the year 2029. It is a four-year deal as well that factors in a fifth year option, a $112 million extension with $85 million guaranteed.
Amon-Ra is considered a fan favorite in Detroit and plays with a constant chip on his shoulder that is nothing short of inspiring. During the 2023 season, St. Brown set career highs with 1,515 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns and had nine games of 100+ receiving yards, the most in the NFL. He is an NFL star and has solidified himself as one of the best players in the league. After signing his deal he was asked if anything is going to change about the way he plays and the way he operates. HIs response? His response was:
“I tell everyone, I’m going harder now. I’m not changing. My goal, our goal, is that Lombardi. We need it.” – Amon-Ra St. Brown
Sewell is another “energy guy” in Detroit. As well as being a stellar offensive tackle, Sewell can be seen as the energy and heart behind what the Lions want to be accomplishing in the years ahead. Entering his fourth season with the Lions, Sewell has already earned two Pro Bowl selections, as well as an AP First-Team All-Pro selection.He is the embodiment of GRIT that the Detroit Lions organization has recently embraced.
At the time of his deal, St. Brown was the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. It was also the third highest non-quarterback salary in the NFL, trailing Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs and Nick Bosa of the San Fransico 49ers. Coming from being a 112th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, it speaks to St. Brown’s hard work and determination. It is a contract that is well-deserved. This mega deal has since been passed by A.J. Brown’s Philadelphia Eagles deal on the 25th of April.
Extensions Are Signed
Then, on April 25, 2024, Sewell and St. Brown were both in Detroit to sign those extension contracts. This was also Day One of the 2024 NFL Draft— also taking place in the city of Detroit.
Amon-Ra St. Brown then made an appearance at the NFL Draft in Detroit alongside current Lions teammates Jared Goff and Aidan Hutchinson, former Lions legends Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and Barry Sanders, and even the American rapper, Eminem, who is famously a Detroit Lions fan.
A busy couple of days for St. Brown!
NFL Draft Day One
The Lions were then set to make a singular first round pick in their hometown. They had the 29th pick and then they traded up five picks to the 24th pick. They traded with the Dallas Cowboys. The package included Dallas recieving the Lions’ first round, 29th pick, as well as the third round pick at no. 73. Detroit recieved pick no. 24 in the first round and a 2025 seventh round pick.
With the now 24th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected CB Terrion Arnold from the University of Alabama. Arnold’s combine results looked like a 4.5 sec. 40-yard dash, 37″ vertical jump, 10’9″ broad jump.
Lance Zierlien of NFL.com reports that, “Arnold possesses average size but plays with a desired level of aggression and competitiveness in both phases of his job. He’s fast and agile to match up against a variety of receiver flavors on the outside or in the slot.”
GM Brad Holmes knows how to go about picking up players for the organization and they have proven time and again to be the best fit for the team and their specific role. We will have to see where Terrion Arnold fits in with this team when the 2024 season begins.
Draft Day Record
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that Draft Day One had set a record in the city of Detroit. It was reported that 275,000 fans were in attendance and that is a record for Day One of the NFL Draft. Detroit is now on pace to break the draft attendance record this weekend. The previous record was set in Nashville. The Nashville NFL Draft currently owns the record with 600,000 people over three days in the year 2019.
Being a Michigan resident, it has been nothing less than amazing to see the city of Detroit show up for its sports teams. Ever since the end of the most recent NFL season, the city has come alive with pride. The NFL Draft being held in this year, at this time, and coming off the recent sports success is amazing to witness. It is well-deserved and the fans have been rewarded for their patience in some of the tougher years. The Motor City is buzzing at this time of year and they are eager to bring this next season and go on another successful run.