The Lions Just Stole a Cornerback Who Should Have Gone 100 Picks Earlier
In the fifth round, the Detroit Lions got what most will say was their biggest steal of the draft in Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Another fifth-round cornerback savior? But hear me out on this one.
This Kid Was Supposed to Be Long Gone
Many draft analysts had Abney as high as a Round 2 pick. Dane Brugler ranked him 61st overall. Trevor Sikkema had him 53rd, Lance Zierlein had him 85th, and Daniel Jeremiah had him 98th.
Detroit took him at 157th overall. That’s not just good value, that’s highway robbery in broad daylight at Allen Park.
The Wide Left consensus big board had Abney ranked 61st overall, making this one of the best value picks of Day 3. Sometimes the football gods smile down on Honolulu Blue, and apparently this was one of those times.
Small Body, Big Attitude
At 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, Abney is undersized for an NFL corner. But he makes up for it with a tenacious attitude and physical style of play that screams Detroit.
The comparisons to Amik Robertson write themselves. Robertson spent two years here playing both nickel and outside before signing with the Commanders this offseason. In Detroit, Abney’s versatility will likely be put to good use whether he’s covering slot receivers or taking on bigger targets outside.
When talking to him at the NFL Combine, Abney rejected any notion that he’s just a zone corner. “My tackling or my man coverage,” he said when asked about his most underrated aspects. “I think a lot of guys view me as a zone defender, but if you turn on the tape, I do a great job in man.”
Abney earned a 9.07 on the Pride of Detroit Grit Index, ranking him third among cornerbacks in this draft class. That attitude fits what Dan Campbell wants in Allen Park.
The Penalty Problem That Isn’t Really a Problem
As it typically goes with physical corners, Abney found himself flagged plenty in college. According to PFF, he was called for 13 penalties over his last two seasons as a starter for the Sun Devils.
But Detroit likes their corners playing on the edge of physicality. Hell, that’s been the franchise’s defensive identity under Aaron Glenn. This might actually be a feature, not a bug.
The Speed Skating Prodigy Turned Football Star
Here’s a fun one. Abney was a competitive inline skater as a kid, and apparently he was damn good at it. His website as an 11-year-old speed skater is still live on the internet, which is both hilarious and impressive.
According to draft analyst Dane Brugler, Abney won four national titles and destroyed the 300-meter national record in seventh grade. That kind of speed and competitive drive doesn’t just disappear when you strap on shoulder pads.
A Lions Fan Playing for His Favorite Team
During his post-draft Zoom call with local media, Abney revealed something that should make every Lions fan smile. The team has been one of his favorites.
“Man, the wait don’t even matter, man. I’m just glad to be a Lion,” Abney said. “It means everything. It’s a great program, great culture, great coaches, great people around. I’m just blessed to be here. I’m feeling all the emotions, man. Dropped a couple of tears. It’s a dream come true and the Lions just happen to be one of my favorite teams, so everything’s working out alright.”
After decades of watching this franchise whiff on draft picks, it’s refreshing to land someone who actually wants to be here and fell into our lap at a massive discount. Is this the steal that finally helps fix our secondary, or are we setting ourselves up for another round of cornerback heartbreak? Drop your take below.
Okay I’m not gonna lie, the fact that he actually wanted to be a Lion means everything to me. We’ve had so many guys just pass through here like it’s a pit stop on the way to somewhere better. This kid fell to us and he’s genuinely happy about it? That’s the kind of energy we need in that secondary.
I get the hype and yeah the value looks good on paper, but I’ve heard the ‘this is our guy’ speech too many times before. Hopefully he’s different but I’m not getting my hopes up until I see him actually play meaningful snaps. The undersized corner thing has burned us before too.
Man I love when a kid comes in hungry and wants to prove something. That’s what made football fun to watch back in the day when guys actually had that fire. If he can stay healthy and keep his head screwed on right, he might actually develop into something special here.
The speed skating background is wild lol but honestly that kind of competitive DNA is exactly what you want. Plus the fact that he’s got that chippy attitude and doesn’t back down from physicality? That’s Detroit football right there. I think we might have actually nailed this one.