Detroit Lions rookie corners credit their moms with helping them reach the NFL

Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., saw first day of action at rookie minicamp on Friday

ALLEN PARK — Terrion Arnold, the Detroit Lions first-round draft pick, says his competitive nature was something he learned from his mom.

“I used to fight, just wrestling with her, playing around. I‘ll never forget that one time my mom kicked my tooth out because we were going at it so hard,’’ Arnold said after the opening day of Lions rookie minicamp on Friday.

“If my mom was out here right now and she lined up across from me as a receiver I would jam her into the dirt. My mom knows that right now, I just mean it football wise that’s the way I think , the way I was brought up,’’ the cornerback explained.

When he donned his uniform — featuring the number 0 — for the first time Friday morning, he sent a photo to his mom and family.

“And they were like, ‘You finally made it, now it’s time to get to work.’ So that’s just the structure and the way I was brought up,’’ Arnold said. “I made a name for myself in college (at Alabama), now it’s time to go out here. Coming here, coming to win, win the Super Bowl that’s the goal.’’

His mom sent him a devotional Friday morning telling him: “Son, you’re here for a reason, for such a time as this, go out and make it count.’’

Arnold said he also got his smile from his mom and he was flashing it after practice, interrupting cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.’s press conference with a few questions of his own. Rakestraw returned the favor. They seem like close buddies already and the vibe seemed genuine.

“Those two are going to compete. I’m sure Rakestraw thinks he’s better and Terrion thinks he’s better. So they’re going to compete, which is a great thing for us, we want competitiveness,’’ Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew said on Friday.  “We don’t want guys that bow down, we want guys to compete and think they’re going to win the spot. I think both of those guys feel like they’re starters but they’ve got their work cut out for them.’’

While they look forward to learning from and competing with veterans, it was all smiles on Friday.

“Coming in here, being the young guys, the dynamic is we’re going to be here for a long time,’’ Arnold said. “We’re going to grow together, we’re going to excel together, take our losses together, take them on the chest. I just thank the organization for drafting both of us, that’s my brother right here.’’

Both agreed it was a dream come true to officially be an NFL player by slipping on the practice uniform..

Rakestraw, a second-round pick who will wear No 15, also credited his mom for helping him get this far.

“My mom had me three days after being 16, we had a real strong bond. I’m here today all thanks to her 100 percent, not me,’’ said Rakestraw who played at Missouri.

Rookie minicamp will wrap up on Sunday, Mother’s Day. Arnold and Rakestraw’s moms won’t see their sons that day, but they will have much to celebrate.

Detroit Lions RT Penei Sewell has found a ‘forever’ home

Signed 4-year, $112 million contract extension

ALLEN PARK — For Penei Sewell, it’s a long way from the beaches of American Samoa to becoming the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions right tackle, a two-time Pro Bowler, signed a four-year, $112 million extension last week.

“I just had a picture that I wanted to play in the NFL, that’s always been a dream of mine but to be where I am right now, it’s just surreal to me,’’ Sewell said at a Monday press conference. “I don’t think it’s hit. I cried just like draft day when I found out. It happened a lot sooner than I thought.’’

He said if he was still in Samoa he’d probably be a farmer. 

“It’s a simple life out there, it’s beautiful but I always knew I wanted more,’’ said Sewell, a first-round pick out of Oregon in 2021.

As a kid he played football on the beach using a water bottle filled with sand and water.

“Thinking about all those times on the beach playing with my friends and cousins and how far I’ve truly come. I don’t like to think about it too much because I’m still trying to go places. It’s crazy, man. From not having a real football to playing in the League. I still don’t touch the football,’’ he said as an aside. “I’m very thankful for those moments because it truly built who I am today.’’

Sewell was wearing leis over his sweatshirt on Monday.

“Shoutout to Brad for this one, that’s my guy. He blessed me with the leis right before I got in here,’’ Sewell said. “That right there goes a long way from me, just those little gestures of him trying to understand where I’m from and understand the culture and know how much it meant to me.’’

Sewell, who is 23, sounds like a man who is at peace with his life in Detroit. He lives here in the offseason with his wife and daughter and could see it being his “forever home.”

One thing he’s not at peace with is the loss to San Francisco in the NFC Championship in January. 

“Honestly, I’ve watched that game a lot. I let it burn because of how close we were,’’ said Sewell, estimating that he’s seen it 10 times.

He and Amon-Ra St. Brown, who also signed an extension last week, have talked about hoisting the Lombardi trophy. It’s a long way from American Samoa, but for Sewell it does not seem unrealistic after all he’s accomplished so far.

Detroit Lions add interior OL depth, draft Christian Mahogany in sixth round

Holmes: ‘He’s got some dirtbag in him’

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions added depth to the offensive line with their final pick in the NFL draft by taking Christian Mahogany (Boston College) in the sixth round (210 overall).

Mahogany, who is 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds, was first team all-ACC in 2023 when he started 12 games at right guard.

Lions GM Brad Holmes said he was shocked Mahogany was available so late in the draft and would not speculate why he dropped. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein had projected him as a fourth-round pick.

“He fits how we want to play,’’ Holmes said. “… He’s got some dirtbag in him.’’

Mahogany takes that as a compliment.

“It’s something I really pride myself on. … I look forward to bringing it to the National Football League,’’ Mahogany said on a conference call on Saturday.

He’s thrilled to be selected by the Lions who have one of the top offensive lines in the League. He wants to be a sponge and learn from the best.

Mahogany is the first interior lineman that the Lions have ever drafted from Boston College.

Zierlein on Mahogany: “Big and powerful but lacking the leverage and body control needed to play a more consistent brand of football. Mahogany’s early tape was very problematic due to shoddy footwork caused by a poor stance, but he made a midseason self-correction that led to better tape later in the year. He doesn’t have the short-area movements to be a consistent pass protector against NFL sub-packages, but the hand usage and punch are good. Mahogany is a downhill mauler who needs to continue technique work but also needs to play for a team that values the big power players and allows them to do what they do best in the run game. He has a chance to be a backup with upside early in his career.’’

Mahogany was the Lions final pick in the draft which set a record with more than 700,000 fans over three days in Detroit.

Lions 2024 draft picks:

First round — CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

Second round — CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr, Missouri

Fourth round — OL Giovanni Manu, British Columbia

Fourth round — RB/ST Sione Vaki, Utah

Sixth round — DT Mekhi Wingo, LSU

Sixth round — G Christian Mahogany, Boston College