Keith Abney Fell to the Fifth Round and the Lions Pounced
Well, well. The Lions went and did something competent again. With pick 157 in the fifth round, they snagged Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney, a guy who was supposed to be gone by Day 2 according to most analysts who actually know what they’re doing.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Another fifth-round corner? After decades of watching this organization whiff on secondary picks? But hold on. This one might be different.
The draft experts had Abney ranked all over the place, but most had him going much earlier. Trevor Sikkema had him 53rd overall. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler put him at 61st. ESPN’s Jordan Reid had him at 66th. Even the more conservative rankings from NFL.com had him in the 85-98 range.
So how did he fall to 157? Sometimes the football gods smile on Detroit, and sometimes they’re just setting us up for heartbreak. Time will tell which this is.
More Than Just a Football Player
Here’s where Abney gets interesting. This isn’t just some guy who only touched a football. He ran track, sure, but get this: he also did inline speed skating and won the USA Roller Sports National Championship in 2017 while setting multiple national speed records. In Detroit, we appreciate people who know how to navigate on ice.
On the football side, Abney jumped into Arizona State’s program in 2023 and worked his way up. Started as a reserve freshman, became the starting nickel as a sophomore, moved to outside corner as a junior, then decided the NFL was calling before his senior season. That’s called having confidence in your abilities.
The Grit Factor
The Lions love their culture fits, and Abney scored a 9.07 on something called the Grit Index, landing him in the top 30 prospects. Perfect. Another player who won’t fold when things get tough at Ford Field.
He’s physical in press coverage, maybe too physical sometimes. Thirteen penalties in his last two seasons as a starter will get you noticed for the wrong reasons. But at least he knows it’s a problem and says he’s working on it. That’s more self-awareness than half our corners have shown over the years.
Dane Brugler from The Athletic summed it up pretty well: “Overall, Abney has wild tendencies and can put himself in tough situations, but athletic instincts and competitive fire (in all areas) are exciting trademarks of his game. He has the makings of an NFL starter with inside-outside upside.”
Where He Fits in Allen Park
The Lions now have eight cornerbacks on the roster. Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed should start on the outside when camp opens. Rock Ya-Sin will likely slide back into his CB3 role, which has been expanding anyway.
The real competition is at nickel. Roger McCreary is projected as the starter right now, but that’s where things get interesting. Abney could push for time inside with his versatility and competitiveness. Ennis Rakestraw might get looks there too, though there are hints he’ll stay outside.
Abney made it clear he’s ready for whatever: “Yes, sir, I’m willing to play anything. I view myself as very versatile. I was actually the starting nickel going into my sophomore year, and then I had a guy on the outside transfer out, so I had to move back to the outside.”
He knows all the positions in the secondary. In Detroit, we call that being ready to contribute when your number gets called. And with this franchise’s injury history, everyone’s number eventually gets called.
Is this another diamond in the rough fifth-round pick or are we setting ourselves up for disappointment again? Let us know what you think about the Abney selection in the comments below.
