ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions didn’t receive as much depth or playing time from their most recent rookie draft class compared to previous years.
But that’s what happens when a franchise continues to improve and win more games — the window for playing time and spots continues to shrink. Let’s get into a full review of the first season from the most recent draft class and where they are trending ahead of Year 2.
Terrion Arnold finished third on the defense in terms of snaps played and received a true trial-by-fire rookie season. When he was healthy and available, Arnold was a full-time starter from start to finish, and that’s no easy task.
There were more than a few bumps along the way, with a ton of penalties littering the first half of the season and his aggressive nature biting him a couple of times. But the Lions love Arnold’s aggressiveness and how he plays the position. The first-rounder also cut down on his penalties, showing an improved comfort regarding technique and how the NFL game is officiated.
Eight of Arnold’s 10 penalties came during his first four games, with only two flags thrown his way the rest of the season. The Lions want him to be aggressive and in the face of receivers, so if he can keep that trending in that direction, there is a ton of room for growth.
“But I think all those snaps that he played are going to serve him well going forward,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said after the season ended. “And then you just saw, the waters were a little choppy early, and then you saw the waters kind of calm down, kind of midpoint to later in the season.
“So, very high expectations for him going forward. Again, we all know how he’s wired. He’s wired the right way. He’s long. He’s athletic. He’s got instincts. He’s tough. He’ll tackle, and so all those reps are just going to improve his confidence even more.”
Ennis Rakestraw couldn’t shake the injury bug. He said he was in line for a starting opportunity in Week 2 at nickelback, but then suffered a pre-game injury and never got that close again. Rakestraw worked through ankle injuries in training camp, and then persisting hamstring injuries hampered his first year.
He was limited to only 46 defensive snaps and another 95 on special teams, finishing the year on injured reserve. Depending on what happens with Carlton Davis III in free agency, Rakestraw could be staring down a meaty opportunity when the Lions hit the field again, though.
“One thing, I like my back against the wall and people not having faith in me, people don’t believe in my abilities, it’s just going to give me the fire to do what I always needed to do,” Rakestraw said during locker room cleanout day. “Nothing never came to me easy. Everything always came hard.
“It’s just brought me back to my roots of everybody doubting me, not believing in what the kid from West Dallas can do. I’m just appreciative that they gave me my fire back, and I’ll use it in the offseason. I’ll be better, I promise.”
Giovanni Manu was a healthy scratch all season. No surprise there, the behemoth out of the University of British Columbia was always viewed as a developmental project. The Lions are set at offensive tackle with Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker. But Dan Skipper is a free agent, and if he lands a deal elsewhere after another solid year, that could open a door for Manu.
“I give credit to the whole coaching staff,” Manu said. “They were just on me, developing me and all that … On the field, Hank (Fraley) was always demanding of me to be physical because of my frame. That showed. That showed halfway through the season, I was able to start moving guys, it was great. It’s just the first steps. It’s going to get better from here.”
Sione Vaki was the second-most utilized draftee this season as a special teamer. The safety-turned-running back appeared in 16 games. Vaki caught a fake punt pass for a first down, was solid and dependable in kick coverage, and added six carries for 14 yards and three catches for 37 yards.
Vaki is so new to running back and showed an impressive ability in the passing game during his first training camp. There is only room to grow, and his natural ability on special teams will extend his leash as he learns the new position.
Mekhi Wingo suffered a late-season torn ACL after appearing in 11 games. Wingo was playing a key rotational role and could have come in handy down the stretch with injuries continuing to mount. The Lions love Wingo’s versatility to kick inside or play defensive end, and he was getting more looks as the year progressed.
His injury timeline is one to watch for in the offseason program and training camp. That’s a tough break for someone who looked to be in line for more.
Christian Mahogany has a ton of positive momentum heading into his first full offseason. He started late in the season on the road against the Chicago Bears and then filled in for Kevin Zeitler in the team’s divisional-round defeat.
Mahogany flashed as a physical mauler in the middle of Detroit’s offensive line. And it wasn’t easy to get to this point, with the sixth-round rookie missing all of training camp and the preseason with mononucleosis. But he came back, worked on his craft in practice, then impressed when his number was called.
He also got a taste of left guard and right guard, filling in once apiece for Graham Glasgow and Zeitler. The latter is a pending free agent, and Glasgow didn’t finish the year on the best note, so Mahogany is one to watch for 2025.
DETROIT, MI (WXYZ) — The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition’s Black Legacy Day celebration is an intergenerational, joy filled gathering in Detroit, centered around authentic joy and liberation.
On Saturday, May 30th, Detroiters, neighbors, partners and friends of every race, creed and background are invited to share in a day of reflection and fun. Highlights will include a food giveaway, a scavenger race, a men’s basketball tournament and free justice resources.
To learn more, visit www.theblac.co.
St. Hubert pastor discusses the Archdiocese of Detroit’s restructuring
The Rev. Douglas Bignall of St. Hubert Catholic Church in Harrison Township discusses the ongoing restructuring effort by the Archdiocese of Detroit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The list of churches targeted for the possible stoppage of weekend Masses has grown to at least 58 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to the latest proposed models the Archdiocese of Detroit had released as part of its major restructuring process through Friday.
At least 22 parishes under the first round of proposed models wouldn’t hold weekend Mass. The archdiocese has been divided into 15 planning areas, or geographic areas, and three or four models are being proposed for each planning area, said the Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The archdiocese has been holding listening sessions with parishioners this spring as part of its restructuring plan to get reactions.
The models have different proposed groupings of parishes, in which a grouping would share a pastor and potentially other priests. In some cases, selected churches in the grouping would no longer hold Sunday Mass.
The Archdiocese of Detroit released on May 22 and this past week the model proposals for another five planning areas, including areas of Macomb County, Oakland County and Detroit. Around 36 more parishes would no longer hold Mass in the future under the latest proposals.
Bunches of churches in Detroit would be affected, while four parishes in Troy and three parishes in Clinton Township wouldn’t have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass under each of the proposed models presented for their planning areas.
Archdiocese of Detroit spokesperson Holly Fournier said the archdiocese has heard a wide range of reactions about the proposed models, which is “understandable given how personal parish life is for people.”
“Some pastors and parishioners are hopeful about opportunities for stronger collaboration and renewed ministry, while others are experiencing more uncertainty and concern, especially in places where one or more models suggest a parish might no longer host weekend Masses in the future,” she said.
Fournier emphasized that the models are “draft models” and aren’t final decisions.
The models for the final six planning areas will be released in June, according to the restructuring website.
The models are part of the archdiocese’s biggest restructuring plan in years. Announced last fall, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the archdiocese can’t maintain the roughly 200 existing parish buildings it has and is working to “right-size” the archdiocese, along with its personnel and financial resources.
Fournier said the draft models were developed by priests earlier this year and are being presented in listening sessions as proposals “meant to spark broader consultation with the faithful.” Each parish in the archdiocese is holding listening sessions this spring or early summer.
In other dioceses that have undergone restructuring processes like the Archdiocese of Detroit’s, as many as 20-40% of the initial models were changed as a result of parishioner feedback, Fournier said.
“That is why it is so important for Catholics to attend their parish listening sessions to view these models and provide their honest feedback, so informed adjustments can be made where necessary,” she said in an email.
One of the most heavily affected groupings is Planning Area 1, which includes west Detroit. Ten of its 13 parishes would not have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass in at least one of the model plans. They include Christ the King, Presentation/Our Lady of Victory, SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit), SS. Peter and Paul (Westside), St. Charles Lwanga Church, St. Mary of Redford, St. Moses the Black Parish, St. Peter Claver Parish, St. Scholastica and St. Suzanne-Our Lady Gate of Heaven, all of which are in Detroit.
Planning Area 9, which includes southeastern Oakland County, has between 15 and 19 parishes, depending on the model. Ten of the parishes wouldn’t hold weekend Mass in at least one of the models. Four of them are in Troy.
They include St. Lucy in Troy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Troy, Christ Our Light in Troy, St. Thomas More in Troy, St. Owen in Bloomfield Township, Our Lady of La Salette in Berkley, Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Oak Park, St. Justin-St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park, St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights and Divine Providence in Southfield.
Planning Area 10, which includes all of northern Oakland County and parts of western Oakland County, has 19 to 22 parishes, depending on the model. Seven would stop holding weekend Mass in at least one of the models, including St. Benedict in Waterford Township, St. Thomas More in Troy, Sacred Heart in Auburn Hills, St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, St. Perpetua in Waterford Township, St. Rita in Holly and Prince of Peace in West Bloomfield Township.
Planning Area 12, which includes parts of southern and eastern Macomb County, has 16 parishes. Four Warren parishes and three Clinton Township parishes would stop holding Mass under the draft models.
St. Louise de Marillac in Warren wouldn’t hold Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass in two of the three draft models presented by the archdiocese. Six other parishes would not hold weekend Mass in only one of the models, including St. Louis in Clinton Township, San Francesco in Clinton Township, St. Ronald in Clinton Township, St. Martin de Porres in Warren, St. Faustina in Warren and St. Mark in Warren.
Planning Area 13, which includes areas of central and northern Macomb County and a parish in Troy, has 14 or 16 parishes, depending on the draft model. Three parishes in the planning area wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models: St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights, St. Matthias in Sterling Heights and SS. John and Paul in Washington Township.
Amore said that if a church stops holding Sunday Mass, parishioners are encouraged to worship at other churches in their “pastorate,” which is a grouping of parishes overseen by a pastor. In the long term, the church building might close, or other sacramental celebrations might take place there, such as weddings and baptisms, he said.
The parish’s buildings could also be repurposed for other uses, such as religious education classes.
Fournier said the proposed models are meant to “foster discussion and discernment.”
“We encourage Catholics to stay engaged in the process, share their feedback honestly, and remember that the goal is not simply organizational change, but ensuring vibrant Catholic communities for future generations,” she said.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
Detroit’s dining scene just got even more flavorful with the opening of Sunda New Asian, bringing modern Southeast Asian cuisine to the city.
Restaurant owner Billy Dec joins the show to share what guests can expect from the new hotspot, from bold dishes and incredible cocktails to an energetic atmosphere.
Watch the video above to see what’s cooking up at Sunda New Asian.
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