Lions strengthen their pass defense by drafting two cornerbacks

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The NFL draft enabled the Detroit Lions to turn a potential weakness into a strength by selecting cornerbacks with their first two picks.

The Lions traded up five spots in Thursday’s first round to select Terrion Arnold from Alabama and followed it up by taking Ennis Rakestraw from Missouri with their second-round pick Friday.

Detroit, which made it to the NFC championship game last season, finished 27th against the pass overall and allowed the second-most passing yards per game in the playoffs.

The Lions’ additions in the draft — along with trading for Carlton Davis, re-signing Emmanuel Moseley and Khalil Dorsey and signing free agent Amik Robertson — are expected to lead to intense battles in training camp.

“Yeah, it’s a bloodbath in there now,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said of his team’s cornerback room. “It is, and that’s what makes everything better. It makes the room better, it makes the defense better, it makes the team better. Competition just brings the best out of everybody.”