lions tour results

Never miss a try, transfer or tackle!

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Sharks 7-54 British & Irish Lions: tour match – as it happened

A convincing win to end a chaotic day for the Lions

• 7 Jul 2021 FULL TIME! Sharks 7 - 54 Lions
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 7 - 54 Lions (Josh Adams)
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 7 - 47 Lions (Duhan van der Merwe)
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 7 - 40 Lions (Louis Rees-Zammit)
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 7 - 33 Lions (Josh Adams)
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 5 - 26 Lions (James Venter)
• 7 Jul 2021 SECOND HALF!
• 7 Jul 2021 Half time!
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 0 - 26 Lions (Bundee Aki)
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 0 - 19 Lions (Duhan van der Merwe)
• 7 Jul 2021 NO TRY! Luke Cowan-Dickie.
• 7 Jul 2021 YELLOW CARD! Werner Kok (Sharks)
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 0 - 7 Lions (Duhan van der Merwe)
• 7 Jul 2021 TRY! Sharks 0 - 7 Lions (Josh Adams)
• 7 Jul 2021 Kick Off!
• 7 Jul 2021 Preamble
• 7 Jul 2021 Teams

Victorious captain Iain Henderson is here.

“We’ve had an interesting day, for sure, but fair play to the lads who were on tenterhooks waiting to see what would happen. We didn’t get to do some of our matchday routines, but that’s the nature of touring but we achieved what we set out to do and we dug in really well when defending.”

And so the Sharks and the spectre of Covid is defeated for today at least. Some good individual performances combined with some at times irresistable offloading stacked up a big score. Still some defensive drills to work on, but we have to make allowances for the chaos in the build up.

FULL TIME! Sharks 7 - 54 Lions

80 mins . Jack Conan gathers the restart and Finn Russell chip the ball out to gratefully end the strangest of days with a big win

TRY! Sharks 7 - 54 Lions (Josh Adams)

79 mins. Rees-Zammit has another dart up the right and sets the ball up for the Lions to spray it left through hands via Beard and Faletau in the backline to feed Adams to once again score.

Finn Russell takes his time then slots in perfectly from the touchline.

77 mins. It’s reached that point in the game where Rory Sutherland, a prop, has broken than line and sprinted 4o metres upfield like an enlarged Mighty Mouse, but the fun is ruined when his offload can’t find a hand and the Sharks regain possession.

TRY! Sharks 7 - 47 Lions (Duhan van der Merwe)

75 mins. Hamish Watson is on for Josh Navidi and his first meaningful contribution it to win a turnover after another decent short period of Sharks possession. A few phases later the Lions come left and a cheeky one hand slap-pass from Daly find van der Merwe to grab another.

Russell whams a great conversion over from wide out.

72 mins. Josh Navidi is over the line after Maro Itoje slaps the ball clear and the Welsh backrow gallops forty metres to score. But the TMO thinks Itoje was offside...

The ref agrees, no try!

71 mins. Again the Sharks repeatedly come but this time the Lions defence stand firm and legal, turn it over and Rees-Zammit boots it clear.

69 mins. Possession is won by Sharks and the Lions are offside once again in defence as the home team pound away from five metres out. They tap and go quickly but are inches short on another offside penalty. I’m very surprised there hasn’t been a formal warning for the Lions from Peyper yet.

67 mins . Sharks on the attack in the Lions 22 via another strong James Venter carry but they struggle to control possession and Adams clear. On the next possession the Lions are penalised for not rolling away and Sharks will have another lineout deep in opposition territory.

Ken Owens for Cowan-Dickie Taulupe Faletau for Tom Curry Jack Conan for Sam Simmonds

TRY! Sharks 7 - 40 Lions (Louis Rees-Zammit)

62 mins . Adams fields a grubber, carries up to his own ten metre line and offloads out of a two-man tackle to Rees-Zammit who burns away from the defence and scores from 60 metres.

Russell adds the two.

TRY! Sharks 7 - 33 Lions (Josh Adams)

57 mins . Sharks centre Marius Louw snaffles a turnover on his own 22 but spills it backwards which allows Josh Adams following through to hack the ball on and score. A heartbreaker for Louw who did well and has had a great game.

Finn Russell, on for Owen Farrell, converts.

55 mins. Louw throws an outrageous dummy and shimmy in midfield just inside his own half and sets off on a powerful run into Lions territory. Once again the Sharks put some solid phases together before Kok gathers his own kick and feeds the lock Ruben van Heerden who is a little isolated and allows a grateful covering Ali Price to clamp onto the ball and win a relieving ruck penalty.

53 mins . Tadhg Furlong and Rory Sutherland are on in the Lions front row for Vunipola and Fagerson.

TRY! Sharks 5 - 26 Lions (James Venter)

52 mins. Lovely try this. Sharks are attacking up the right hand side, running angles off each runner to allow multiple offloads before the ball finds Venter on the right touchline who shakes off a tackler to touch down.

Bosch converts.

49 mins. Aki drives the Lions into the 22 but his offload can’t find Tom Curry’s supporting run and the ball is turned over for Bosch to clear. However the ball is coming back via strong run back into the Sharks half from Josh Adams.

46 mins. An intricate short scissor move is attempted by the Lions forwards at the rear of a lineout in the Sharks 22 but the ball goes to ground. It’s not forward so play continues before Lions obstruct in attack and allow Bosch to clear the lines.

43 mins. An early penalty for Sharks at the scrum as their modest success there continues, but they can’t capitalise as an attempted chip and chase ends with a Lions penalty for Louw shoving Farrell in the back off the ball.

You’re all reading the football coverage now, aren’t you?

SECOND HALF!

40 mins. Owen Farrell restarts proceedings

“Is South Africa’s plan to give the Lions such poor opposition, who can’t defend (see Sharks here), that it won’t matter that South Africa have played once in the last 19 months by the first test?” asks John Ryan. “This is some of the worst defence you’ll ever see.”

Yep, they are not best in the organisation stakes the Sharks, but the Lions rearguard is nothing to write you Mam about either. Better opposition would be over the line a few time this half methinks.

Mid-way Musings.

It looked like it was going be very grim indeed for Sharks after six minutes. While 26-0 is still fairly grim it could have been a lot worse but for them putting together some periods of decent possession and giving the Lions no small amount of bother at set-piece.

Some lovely offloading and attacking phases from the Lions, but they look a poor team in defence at times, and the fact they haven’t conceded is down to a lack of precision from their opponents at key times rather than a convincing defensive effort.

PEEP! That’s the last action of the half and the team retreat down the tunnel.

TRY! Sharks 0 - 26 Lions (Bundee Aki)

40 mins. From a lineout in the Sharks half, the Lions find Simmonds again on an in-to-out angle in midfield. The Exeter man drops the hammer, sears past Louw and runs free into the Sharks 22. Off another lineout a few phases later, Aki picks up and drives over from five metres.

Farrell makes not mistake from the tee.

36 mins . A lively, jinking run from Thaakir Abrahams off his right wing carries Sharks through a gap in the Lions defence before Adams and van de Merwe close the door in the 22. The home side can’t capitalise however as they spill the ball on the next phase.

Game of two performances by the Lions so far: with the ball, decent; without it, not so much.

34 mins. Sam Simmonds has his first carry in the loose as he’s fed by Farrell in midfield. He sucks in a few tacklers and the Lions push the ball left through hands and are nearly in again but for the ball being spilled 5m from the line by van der Merwe.

31 mins. The Sharks front row of Khwezi Mona, Fez Mbatha, Khutha Mchunu is having a proper go at their more storied opponents and they win their second scrum penalty after forcing Mako Vunipola to the ground under pressure.

TRY! Sharks 0 - 19 Lions (Duhan van der Merwe)

27 mins. From a scrum on halfway Owen Farrell fires a bullet gubber into open pasture for van der Merwe to chase which the winger taps forward with his boot and dives on to score in the left corner. Farrell’s first missed conversion of tour follows.

Sharks defence completely all over the shop off first phase there, but in there defence they are a winger down with Kok in the bin.

24 mins. Navidi snaffles the ball in midfield from a Louw handling error and the Lions fire it right for Farrell to slide a diagonal kick for Rees-Zammit to chase. The winger gets there but holds onto the ball a little too long the on the ground and is penalised.

NO TRY! Luke Cowan-Dickie.

21 mins. A catch and drive in the lineout has the Lions pack over the line, but Cowan-Dickie gets himself into a poor position on his back and can’t place the ball down over his head without spilling it. The TMO confirms Ref Peyper’s suspicions and it’s not given.

YELLOW CARD! Werner Kok (Sharks)

20 mins. Sharks spill the ball to bring a decent phase of possession. It looks like the Lions have lost the ball in the own 22 as Ali Price throws a big wild pass behind van der Merwe, but the big wing regathers and puts his team back on the attack. The ball is through hands and multiple offloads quickly and the Lions go 70 metres upfield before Kok dives on the ruch and is shown his marching orders for 10 minutes.

17 mins. Marius Louw trucks a big carry up into the Lions 22 and the tourists give a penalty away first for offside again, then another for a high tackle. The regular problem of poor defence discipline takes hold again.

On the next attack the Sharks are up within inches of the line but Tom Curry rips the ball out of the ruck for a turnover. He looked very much off his feet, but Ref Peyper is happy.

14 mins. After five unproductive phases of short carries around the ruck Sharks spray it right and then back to the left for the leonine coiffured Werner Kok to break free on the touchline. He beats Ali Price but can’t find an inside runner with his pass with the line beckoning from 20 or so metres.

12 mins. A knock on at the lineout through pressure from Adam Beard brings the Sharks mini-possession to a frustrating end. At the resulting scrum the Lions win a penalty of their own which Farrell wallops it into touch on the Sharks 10m line.

9 mins. Sharks have a penalty after Lions drift offside in the tackle line which Curwin Bosch send out for a lineout in the opposition 22. First defensive test of the game coming for the tourists.

TRY! Sharks 0 - 7 Lions (Duhan van der Merwe)

7 mins. Mako Vunipola bumps a couple and the Lions recycle quickly and run a lovely attacking pattern through hands left to van der Merwe who is round Thaakir Abrahams to touch down.

Speed of ball and precision of passing is killing the Sharks at the minute.

Another two points for Farrell extends the lead.

TRY! Sharks 0 - 7 Lions (Josh Adams)

3 mins . The Lions put the ball through hands early, going left then all the way right before Rees-Zammit nips a grubber forward but is beaten to it by the covering Manie Libbok. On the next Lions possession there’s two smart offloads in the Sharks 22 and the final one finds Josh Adams to make it 6 in three matches for today’s fullback.

Farrell converts.

1 min. Ref Jaco Peyper peeps his whistle allowing Curwin Bosch send the ball into the smoky haze left by the pre-match pyrotechnics and we’re underway

@bloodandmud the big question is about playing load. I think @sirianmcgeechan is correct in suggesting a ten day break after today. Unless those in isolation are somehow selectable on Saturday — Feargus Woods Dunlop (@thisactorslife) July 7, 2021

Well, the good news is there is no game on Saturday Fergus as the Bulls game has already been postponed, so the next outing is a week today vs South Africa A. This should give all the players who have played a decent break and eat into some Covid isolation time for the others.

A straight bat from the Lions MD there , which is no surprise given the high likelihood something like this was bound to happen and protocols are no doubt in place.

However, we’re all looking on the gloomy side here and missing that the British & Irish Lions has now become like a club third team fixture - basically one step away from borrowing players from the Sharks to make up numbers.

Does this threaten “the integrity of the tour” (whatever that means)? I say no. Nothing harks back to the amateur era in the way the Lions do and a midweek game feeling exactly like a club match, complete with all it’s ramshackle imperfections only gives it some more charm.

Barely any players? No crowd? At least three lads not expecting to play so had to rush straight from work? I played a game like that once at Trinant in the South East Wales league.

Ben Calveley MD of the Lions is here:

“We’ve had one positive case in the management team with four close contacts; we’ve tested everyone and there is one other positive, with a close contact and so we’ve isolated who we needed to. We’ve taken advice from our medical advisory group and they’ve confirmed it’s OK to proceed”

“No bubbles are impervious as we’ve found throughout the world of sport, but we’re pleased we have acted quickly, taken advice and that the fixture is going ahead. We’re here in South African and our intention is complete all the games we can here in South Africa.”

“Nearly all of the Lions tour party have been double jabbed and it’s not for me to answer whether the Springboks have been vaccinated. Again, we see this as a positive, we’re here to play rugby and we’re really pleased we have a fixture on tonight”

What about all this then, eh? Let me have your thoughts on the email via tweet @bloodandmud . Much to discuss, without ball being dropped in anger yet.

Pre match reading

Get the full run-down on what the hell’s beeen going on from Gerard Meagher here

One upshot of the Covid drama in the build up is that the Lions backline as was originally named has been decimated. Ali Price and Owen Farrell replace Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar at half-back while Josh Adams moves to fullback as Louis Rees-Zammit comes in on the wing. Aki and Daly in the centres are as you were, at least.

In the less disrupted part of the park, Warren Gatland selects his third captain in three games as Ulster and Ireland lock Iain Henderson is given the armband. A great reward for a player who doesn’t get the notices he deserves for his class and form over a sustained period at international level. Much babbled excitement in the build-up has focused on the back-row of debutant Tom Curry, plus Josh Navidi and Sam Simmonds - a trio with muscular dynamism aplenty.

The Lions bench is now a 7-1 (!) split with Finn Russell the man covering the entire backline among other changes. I, for one, want to see Hamish Watson and Taulupe Faletau in the centres at some point

Sharks make one change to a team that recently lost to Western Province, with young captains Phepsi Buthelezi bac in at No 8. In a taste of things to come for the Lions, Sharks have names six forwards on the bencch

Sharks: Manie Libbok; Werner Kok, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Thaakir Abrahams; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Khwezi Mona, Fez Mbatha, Khutha Mchunu, Ruben van Heerden, Hyron Andrews, James Venter, Thembelani Bholi, Phepsi Buthelezi (capt).

Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Reniel Hugo, 21 Dylan Richardson, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Anthony Volmink.

Lions: Josh Adams; Louis Rees-Zammit, Elliot Daly, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Owen Farrell, Ali Price; Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Zander Fagerson, Iain Henderson (capt), Adam Beard, Josh Navidi, Tom Curry, Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Finn Russell, 22 Hamish Watson, 23 Taulupe Faletau.

Welcome to Johannesburg, where the British & Irish Lions are facing Cell C Sharks, now of the United Rugby Championship.

Make the most of this match everyone as it may be the last one we have to enjoy as COVID takes its grip on various squads across South Africa like a microscopic, spiteful, armoured sticky-bob. The tour match vs Bulls is already not going to happen ever postponed from this coming Saturday, while the Springboks have cancelled their second Test versus Georgia due to outbreaks in all the respective squads. And then this game was hanging by a thread after a member of Lions management and two players tested positive and we awaited a rapid battery of PCR test results. But the news was positive (not in that way) and the game is goer.

The Sharks have mustered a squad for today, but they are shorn of their internationals and previous form on Lions tours - two matches, two Sharks losses - suggests this should be a handy win for the visitors. But a win being a given against such opposition means that Warren Gatland can make sure that by the end of today everyone in his squad has had game-time, and he also has the opportunity to try out new combinations such as Bundee Aki and Elliot Daly in the midfield.

South Africa at large was much unimpressed with the Lions showing vs the other Lions at the weekend, and quite a few back home were unimpressed also. Gatland won’t give one about that as his eyes are firmly on what happens from 24 July onwards, but some improvement is ruck tidiness in attack and defence, consolidation of the attacking maul, better discipline when scrambling, and a further development of the flashes of Gregor Townsend’s inventive attacking patterns would be welcome

• British & Irish Lions
• Rugby union

Most viewed

• Rugby Union
• Rugby League
• More Sports
• Live on Sky
• Get Sky Sports
• Sky Mobile Apps
• Kick It Out
• Black Lives Matter
• British South Asians in Football

British and Irish Lions

• Select a team All Teams Fiji Georgia Japan Namibia Samoa Tonga Uruguay England France Ireland Italy Scotland Wales Bath Bristol Bears Exeter Gloucester Harlequins Leicester Newcastle Northampton Sale Saracens Argentina Australia New Zealand South Africa British and Irish Lions Benetton Rugby Cardiff Blues Connacht Dragons Edinburgh Glasgow Leinster Munster Scarlets The Ospreys Ulster Zebre Bayonne Bordeaux-Begles Castres Clermont Auvergne La Rochelle Lyon Montpellier Oyonnax Pau Perpignan Racing 92 Stade Francais Toulon Toulouse Teams

More from Rugby Union

• Rugby Union Home

British and Irish Lions confirm first women's Tour in 2027

The British and Irish Lions have confirmed plans for a first women's tour - which will send a team to New Zealand for a three-Test series in 2027.

Why have the Lions chosen Farrell to lead them in Australia?

We look at the reasons the British and Irish Lions have selected Ireland head coach Andy Farrell to lead them on the 2025 tour of Australia, live on Sky.

Farrell leaves Lions door open for son Owen despite England uncertainty

Andy Farrell has told Sky Sports 'there is no rule' prohibiting players playing for the Lions, opening the door for likes of Henry Arundell and potentially his son Owen.

British and Irish Lions Latest

Farrell named British & Irish Lions coach for Australia 2025 tour

Andy Farrell has been announced as the next head coach of the British and Irish Lions for their 2025 tour to Australia, live on Sky Sports.

British and Irish Lions set to unveil plans for women's team

The British and Irish Lions are set to unveil plans for a first women's tour with the aim to send a team to New Zealand for a three-Test series in 2027.

British & Irish Lions to announce coach today: Who could it be?

The British and Irish Lions will announce their head coach for the 2025 tour to Australia, live on Sky Sports, today from 1pm.

Wales and Lions legend JPR Williams dies aged 74

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back JPR Williams has died at the age of 74, his former club Bridgend have announced.

Lions to play in Ireland for first time ahead of 2025 Australia tour

The British and Irish Lions will play in Ireland for the first time as they take on Argentina in a June 2025 warm-up fixture ahead of their tour of Australia.

• Lawes: I would still represent the Lions despite England retirement
• British & Irish Lions announce historic partnership with Premiership, URC
• Warburton: Farrell, Townsend, Borthwick potential next Lions coach
• Sky Sports to show 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia
• Gatland backs Farrell to coach Lions in 2025

2025 Lions tour big questions: Next head coach? Who will be captain?

• British and Irish Lions to play three Tests on Australian tour
• Premiership final set to move in 2025 to help Lions preparation

De Allende relishing confrontational series

Genge: Lions a once-in-a-career opportunity

Emotional Siya Kolisi on refereeing

Gatland: TMO decision was a shock

With under two years to go, we look at some of the questions the Lions will need to answer for their 2025 tour.

Lions player series ratings

We take a look at a how all the Lions players performed as South Africa defeated them 2-1 after a narrow 19-16 win in their third and decisive Test.

Habana: Erasmus video affected officials | Put Vermeulen in

Springbok legend Bryan Habana discusses South Africa's second Test victory, Rassie Erasmus' off-field antics, Lions changes, and more.

Roberts: Momentum with Boks | Barritt: Huge empathy for refs

Former Lions Jamie Roberts and Brad Barritt, and England World Cup winner Nolli Waterman, dissect the Lions' Test loss to South Africa.

Greenwood: 'Nice start for England under Borthwick, but lots to work on'

Former England international Will Greenwood believes head coach Steve Borthwick can have his side in a better place come the World Cup.

Greenwood: Smith-Farrell combo not England's biggest worry | 'Tough times'

Former England international Will Greenwood spoke to Sky Sports News to reflect on the defeat to Scotland.

Epic World Cup final showed sold-out Twickenham in 2025 achievable

Katy Daley-McLean says the 2025 World Cup in England will have huge support and calls on other nations to turn professional.

World Cup final: England stronger than NZ and hero-status awaits

Katy Daley-McLean analyses England's changes for New Zealand finale and provides insight into the Red Roses' dressing room

• Fantasy Football
• TEAMtalk.com
• Football365.com
• Sky Sports Main Event
• Sky Sports Premier League
• Sky Sports Football
• Sky Sports Cricket
• Sky Sports Golf
• Sky Sports Racing
• Sky Sports F1
• Sky Sports Tennis
• Sky Sports Action
• Sky Sports Arena
• Sky Sports News
• Sky Sports Mix
• Sky For Businesses
• Sky Partnerships
• Store Locator
• Advertise With Us
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy & Cookies Notice
• Privacy Options
• Accessibility Information

The British & Irish Lions squad that took on reigning World Champions South Africa.

The 37-man party was skippered by Alun Wyn Jones, who made his fourth Lions Tour. Head coach Warren Gatland unveiled his squad and allowed the Lions to take on the Springboks in every department. Check out the chosen names here.

2021 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD

Lions Tour 2021 Latest Results, Lions Tour 2021 Current Season's Scores  

Les jeux d’argent et de hasard peuvent être dangereux : pertes d’argent, conflits familiaux, addiction…

Retrouvez nos conseils sur joueurs-info-service.fr (09-74-75-13-13, appel non surtaxé)

Rugby Union World

Historic Fixtures

• FanNation FanNation FanNation
• SI.COM SI.COM SI.COM
• SI Swimsuit SI Swimsuit SI Swimsuit
• SI Sportsbook SI Sportsbook SI Sportsbook
• SI Tickets SI Tickets SI Tickets
• SI Showcase SI Showcase SI Showcase
• SI Resorts SI Resorts SI Resorts

© Courtesy Photo/Detroit Lions

Lions 2024 Draft Recap, Analysis, Grades

Analyzing every move the Lions made in the 2024 NFL Draft.

• Author: John Maakaron

In this story:

The Detroit Lions have completed their 2024 NFL Draft class.

Thanks to an active Day 3 involving numerous trades, general manager Brad Holmes wound up finalizing a six-player class. The group consists of two cornerbacks, two offensive linemen, a defensive lineman and a running back.

Below is the entirety of All Lions' NFL Draft coverage over the course of the three-day event.

2024 All Lions NFL Draft Coverage

Detroit Lions 2024 NFL Draft Picks: Evaluating Every Selection Lions Fans React to Bears Selecting Rome Odunze, Express Concern Lions Trade Up to No. 24, Select CB Terrion Arnold Grading Lions' Selection of Terrion Arnold Lions Fans 'Ecstatic' Terrion Arnold Drafted New CB Terrion Arnold Fits Lions 'Like a Glove' What They're Saying: Pundits Applaud Lions' Pick of Terrion Arnold 'We're Going to Be Best Friends': Arnold Discusses Top 30 Visit Detroit Lions Day 2 Wishlist Lions' Day 2 Mock Draft 'He Loses Focus': Bill Belichick Critiques Terrion Arnold What Detroit Lions Are Getting in Terrion Arnold Roundtable: Did Lions Give Up Too Much to Draft Terrion Arnold Analyst: Terrion Arnold Is 'Carbon Copy' of Jaylon Johnson Amon-Ra St. Brown: I've 'Never' Seen That Many People in My Life Terrion Arnold Asked to Work on JUGS Machine with Amon-Ra St. Brown Lions Select Ennis Rakestraw with Pick No. 61 Grading Lions' Pick of Ennis Rakestraw Detroit Lions Fans Conflicted Team Drafted Two Cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw Plans on Being 'Tone-Setter' For Lions' Defense 10 Prospects Lions Could Target on Day 3 of NFL Draft 'We Are Looking for Villains': Lions Have Transformed Defense Lions Day 2 Grades: Analysts Praise Ennis Rakestraw's Physical Style Detroit Lions Day 3 Mock Draft How Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Will Affect Lions' Salary Cap Detroit Sets 3-Day Draft Attendance Record Lions Trade Up, Select OL Giovanni Manu Lions Trade Up to Select Utah S Sione Vaki Grading Lions' Selection of Giovanni Manu Grading Lions' Selection of Sione Vaki Lions Trade Up, Select Mekhi Wingo with Pick No. 189 Detroit Lions Select OL Christian Mahogany with Pick No. 210 Detroit Lions' 2024 Undrafted Free-Agent Tracker Detroit Lions' 2024 NFL Draft Grades Did Lions Do Enough? Brad Holmes Assesses 2024 NFL Draft 'Those Are Easy Decisions': Brad Holmes Rewards Core Players Detroit Lions' 2024 Post-Draft Depth Chart Lions 2024 Draft Grades: Holmes, Campbell 'Force' Together Detroit Lions Had NFL's Best Draft Based on Value

Latest Lions News

How CB Amik Robertson Aids Lions' Defense

Mike Valenti: Lions Free Agency Plan 'Arrogant'

D.J. Reader Set to Visit Detroit Lions

C.J. Gardner-Johnson Takes Back Harsh Comments About Philadelphia After Signing With Eagles

BREAKING: C.J. Gardner-Johnson Returning to Eagles

Detroit Lions NFL draft grades: Hard to find anyone critical of Brad Holmes' haul

It's not officially the end of NFL draft season until we have grades.

And yes, we know, draft grades are simply projections on the teams' projections. We know that making final determinations on how well the Detroit Lions drafted without the benefit of games, or heck, even practices, is a bit premature.

But that won't stop us from looking at them. And there is plenty to take in. Here are the highlights:

USA TODAY: B

Nate Davis trumpeted one of the main themes of the Lions' draft class: fixing the secondary, which seemed to be a priority by drafting Terrion Arnold in Round 1 and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in Round 2. "Alabama’s charismatic Arnold, in particular, should be a great culture fit and beloved figure in Motown based on his reception from the locals Thursday night," Davis wrote.

All things Lions: Latest Detroit Lions news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Chad Reuter handed the Lions a B-plus for Day 1, a B for Day 2 and a B-minus for Day 3. He seemed a bit leery of the Lions' second fourth-round move, trading up for Sione Vaki, the Utah all-purpose player. "Vaki could turn out to be a hammer of a running back and special teamer, but the 32-spot jump to get him cost Detroit its fourth-rounder next year," according to Reuter.

What's NFL draft analysis without the chief evaluator, Mel Kiper Jr.? He likes what the Lions did by addressing the secondary, thought GM Brad Holmes should have gone after a wide receiver on Day 3. "The Lions certainly upgraded at cornerback, but after (LSU defensive lineman Mekhi) Wingo, I don't see any of their Day 3 players getting a significant opportunity in 2024. Plus, that 2025 third-rounder looms as potentially valuable."

Bleacher Report: A-

The BR NFL scouting department handed the Lions a high mark for their draft class, as the Bleacher Report's Cory Giddings called Arnold "a complete and well-rounded defender, there isn't much he can't do." And, though there is some head-scratching over their other picks, BR writes: "Given the results from last year's class, it's hard to doubt Detroit."

Pro Football Focus: A

The group with seemingly a number for everything likes a lot of what the Lions did over the weekend. They had Arnold rated at a 90.6 for his run defense and Rakestraw as a 46th-best player on the board (the Lions got him at No. 61 overall). And Detroit final pick, Boston College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany, "allowed just one sack and seven total quarterback pressures from 711 pass-blocking snaps," making him a steal.

NBC Sports: B

Eric Froton is a big fan of Arnold, especially where the Lions got him, but maybe not as much a fan of Rakestraw, whom Froton called "wiry but short-armed." Alas, "While I personally might not have taken two corners in a row, especially with Rakestraw’s spindly frame, both picks were solid values and they added two linemen (Wingo, Mahogany) with the potential to contribute in short order."

Yahoo! Sports: B

Charles McDonald called the Lions' Day 3 picks "risky," but ultimately accomplished their biggest goal: getting better at cornerback. And his favorite pick by the Lions was Wingo in the sixth round, because "(h)e checks off so many boxes from technique to production to versatility to age. It’s baffling how he was on the board in the sixth round."

"The Lions even got a couple sixth-rounders with potential to close out their day. It’s really just the selections in the fourth round (Giovanni Manu, Vaki) that are giving a bit of pause here," McDonald said.

CBS Sports: B-

Whoa! Why so negative? Chris Trapasso handed the Lions the lowest grade we saw (though on most days, a B-minus in school is not much to complain about). "For as much as I love what the Lions have done over the past three years, especially in the draft, after the back-to-back cornerback picks, I didn't love what Detroit did in this draft," Trapasso said.

Fox Sports: B-

Definitely hit a rough patch here, as Carmen Vitali calls into question giving up a third-round pick next year to get Manu, a developmental, though huge, prospect with limited experience. "I appreciate that Holmes again got his guys, consensus big board be damned. The Lions also by far and away won the award for best war-room attire," Vitali wrote.

The Ringer: A

We wrap up with Danny Kelly assessment, who wrote that Detroit "came into the draft with massive holes in their defensive secondary. They immediately filled those gaps." Kelly hailed Arnold's "ball-hawking" ability and thinks he can start as soon as the season starts. He also likes Rakestraw's "tenacious, physical style."