Detroit breaks NFL Draft attendance record

State of play: The Lions' bevy of draft picks should help them defend the NFC North division title and compete for a Super Bowl next year.

The players general manager Brad Holmes drafted:

• First round: Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.
• Second round: Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
• Fourth round: British Columbia offensive tackle Giovanni Manu.
• Fourth round: Utah safety Sione Vaki.
• Sixth round: LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo.
• Sixth round: Boston College offensive guard Christian Mahogany.

Between the lines: The Lions took risks to land the players they wanted, trading away future draft picks to move up for Arnold, Manu, Vaki and Wingo.

What they're saying: Holmes woke up on Saturday with a determination to draft Manu, a 6-foot-7, 351-pound developmental prospect, and Vaki, a versatile safety who has also played running back, the Free Press reported.

• "And I was like, 'Let's go get them. Let's not mess around.' And again, you always get the answers to the test after you pick them, and if we would have waited around, then they weren't going to make it," Holmes said.

The bottom line: Holmes knows what he wants and has an exceptional record of taking chances in the draft.