As the 2024 NFL Draft approached, the Detroit Lions were faced with a wealth of prospects at their 29th pick. Ultimately, they decided to trade down to the 24th spot to select Terrion Arnold, who is considered one of the top defensive back prospects available in the draft. However, amidst the excitement surrounding the Lions’ decision, another standout player, Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, remained on the board, raising eyebrows and speculation about his potential impact on the team.

From both a performance and character standpoint, the defensive tackle from Illinois seemed to be a perfect fit for the Lions. Had they chosen Newton at 29, it would have been a move that thrilled many fans. Despite the significant buzz leading up to the draft, which included multiple visits with the Lions, Newton surprisingly continued to slide down the draft board. He fell past the 24th pick, all the way to 29, and ultimately, it wasn’t until the Washington Commanders selected him at pick 36 that he found his new NFL home.

Recent developments may shed light on Newton’s unexpected draft slide. Commanders’ head coach, Dan Quinn, revealed during a press conference that the rookie will need to undergo another foot surgery in the upcoming weeks. This news adds complexity to Newton’s situation and raises questions about how his health impacted his draft stock.

Newton dealt with a Jones fracture in his right foot during his last season at Illinois, managing to play through the pain until he finally underwent surgery in January. Now, just four months later, he is scheduled to receive the same surgical intervention on his left foot for the identical injury. Notably, another top prospect from 2024, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, also suffered a Jones fracture before the NFL Combine, which may explain why he dropped to the 41st pick.

While the timeline for Newton’s recovery remains uncertain, the occurrence of two separate injuries within a single year likely contributed to his unexpected fall in the draft. It raises an intriguing question: Were the Lions wary of selecting him due to concerns regarding his health? Although we can’t definitively answer this, it’s worth pondering why a player of Newton’s caliber did not attract any interest on Day 1 of the draft.

The Lions have previously selected players who were recovering from injuries sustained in college, such as Jameson Williams and James Mitchell, but the choice of Levi Onwuzurike back in 2021 might have served as a cautionary tale for general manager Brad Holmes. Onwuzurike was picked early in the second round despite having lingering back issues from college, leading to limited playing time and a hindered development during his early career.

Could the Lions have wanted to avoid a similar situation with Newton? It’s a possibility worth considering. However, what is clear is that they are delighted to have secured Arnold as part of their roster, and they are optimistic about his potential contributions to the team.