Detroit Lions: For some, roster bubble is about to pop
By Ash Thompson
Cornerback
Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Jalen Tabor and D. J. Hayden will be on the Lions 53 man roster. Slay is the team’s top corner. Tabor was a second round pick this year and has shown that despite his lack of elite speed there is definitely a position for him in the NFL. Lawson has been rock solid on the outside, and the only reason he could be kicked inside to the nickel would be that Hayden has been almost perfect.
On the Detroit Lions roster bubble are Quandre Diggs, Johnson Bademosi and Jamal Agnew. Shortcomings in other areas may allow the Lions to temporarily keep seven cornerbacks on their roster, but a decision needs to be made. Diggs has been very good in the preseason, when teams are not scheming to get massive, or speedy receivers on him. He has been every year. Unfortunately teams will be scheming to exploit his weaknesses during the regular season. His practice performance against the Lions best, which we will never see, will determine his fate.
Johnson Bademosi is one of the NFL’s best special teams players, and it is hard to imagine the Lions letting him go. But the rest of the Lions kick coverage team has also excelled. Jamaal Agnew brings kick return capability to the field, and was a 2017 draft pick from a small school. There is not question that Bademosi is more valuable in 2017. There is also no question that Agnew could be claimed on waivers after a solid preseason performance. He could be a few team’s starting nickel corner, but will likely be a third at best option for the Lions. It is difficult to see the Lions cutting any of these players.
Safety
Glover Quin, Tavon Wilson, and Miles Killebrew will make the 53 man roster. Quin signed a two year extension this offseason, and is the brain of the secondary. He has been getting the Lions secondary prepared well since arriving in Detroit. Wilson is the starting strong safety. He also has the ability to move over to the free safety spot if Quin were to get hurt. Killebrew is the likely bog nickel back, and has shown that he can handle nickel linebacker duties in a pinch. He has played well on special teams as well.
On the Detroit Lions roster bubble at safety are Don Carey, Charles Washington, Alex Carter, and Rolan Milligan. Carey is a great special teamer, but a liability on defense. he signed an extension during the 2016 season, but has no guaranteed money remaining to be paid out. Charles Washington has drawn rave reviews, and played solidly if unspectacularly as Quin’s back-up. Alex Carter and Rolan Milligan have shown flashes of talent but have played against lower levels of competition.
Washington, Carter and Milligan are all better defensive players than Don Carey, but they do not match his special teams ability. The four men are likely competing for two positions. Perhaps only one spot exists unless they shine so brightly as to force the team to keep them.