Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Six Detroit Lions players the national media are sleeping on

By Ash Thompson

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 10: Kenny Golladay #19 of the Detroit Lions catches a fourth quarter touchdown next to Justin Bethel #28 of the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field on September 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 35-23. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 10: Kenny Golladay #19 of the Detroit Lions catches a fourth quarter touchdown next to Justin Bethel #28 of the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field on September 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 35-23. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
Teez Tabor of the Detroit Lions.
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 10: Teez Tabor #30 of the Detroit Lions defends a pass in the end zone against Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter of a game against at Raymond James Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The slow corner

There is a simple narrative nationally regarding Teez Tabor. He is a great college player who ran a slow forty time, fell in the draft, struggled to get on the field as a rookie. None of that is incorrect. Facts rarely tell the story without context, however.

I would posit that only two or three players drafted in 2017 could have cracked the Lions corner group as a rookie. Nevin Lawson and Quandre Diggs were not pro bowlers, but each is a legitimate NFL starter, not some also-ran needing to be replaced by literally anyone.

Beyond just the starters, D.J. Hayden, the backup to both men, played well enough to earn a three year, $19 million contract in Jacksonville. By the end of the season, however, Tabor had started taking Hayden’s snaps. In three of the final four games, Tabor played more than Hayden.

There were significant hurdles between Tabor and the field. He started jumping over them at the end of his rookie season. During OTAs, he has been running with the first team defense across from Darius Slay.

If Teez Tabor is legitimately outplaying Lawson that is nothing but great news for Lions fans. Hopefully opposing quarterbacks sleep on Tabor the way that the national media are.

Home/Detroit Lions