The Lions Just Found Their Hidden Gem in Keith Abney II
The Detroit Lions somehow managed to snag a starting cornerback in the fifth round. That doesn’t happen very often, especially not for a franchise that has watched late-round picks turn into special teams afterthoughts for decades. But Arizona State’s Keith Abney II might just be the biggest steal of the day.
Detroit added another body to what was already a crowded secondary room with 15 players before this pick. They grabbed Abney with the 157th overall selection, and the numbers suggest they got themselves a player who should have been long gone by then.
What Makes Abney Worth Getting Excited About
Here’s what jumps off the page: an 87.6 tackling grade from Pro Football Focus. The kid missed just two tackles in 2025 while playing 785 snaps. Two. In a world where Lions fans have watched defensive backs whiff on tackles that would make a high school coach cry, this is the kind of stat that makes you sit up and pay attention.
But Abney isn’t just a sure tackler. He’s strong in coverage too, allowing a passer rating of just 46.1 in 2025 with nine pass breakups and two interceptions. His 85.3 coverage grade tells you this isn’t some one-trick pony.
The draft experts are calling this a steal, and for good reason. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Abney pegged as a second or third-round pick. AtoZ Sports had him ranked as their 61st player on their big board. Getting that kind of value in the fifth round? That’s the kind of draft day magic this franchise has been missing for years.
The Red Flags You Need to Know
Nothing comes without risk, and Abney’s got some. Thirteen combined penalties in the last two years tells you he’s handsy and aggressive. Sound familiar? That’s the same style as Terrion Arnold, so maybe that’s just how Detroit wants their corners to play.
The bigger concern is his size. At just under 5-foot-10, he’s built more like an Amik Robertson type. He’s played mostly outside in college, but Detroit will likely want him in the slot. Problem is, he only has 26 snaps of slot experience. He’s going to have to learn a new position on the fly.
What the Scouts Are Saying
AtoZ Sports projects Abney as an immediate quality starter, which is ambitious talk for a fifth-round pick. Their scouting report notes his ability to attack the football, especially on slants and in-breaking routes. His patience and recognition are described as excellent.
The report acknowledges his height concerns but notes he plays bigger than his listed measurements. For a Lions team that has struggled to find reliable depth in the secondary, getting an immediate contributor this late in the draft would be a welcome change.
Is this finally the Lions finding value where other teams missed, or are we setting ourselves up for another developmental project that never develops? Let us know what you think about the Abney pick in the comments.
