Five likely winners and five likely losers at Detroit Lions training camp
By Ash Thompson
Winner: Teez Tabor
Teez Tabor slowly siphoned off D.J. Hayden‘s snaps toward the end of the 2017 season. Hayden made for Jacksonville, and that gets him out of Tabor’s way eternally. The 2017 second round pick for the Lions is primed for an ascension up the depth chart.
Tabor has been running with the first team defense throughout OTAs. He is not the sort of player that typically shines in shorts but then wilts when the pads go on. He was famously quoted in his pre-draft process as saying “I play football, I don’t run track” after disappointing timed runs at the combine and Florida’s pro day.
If anything the lack of physicality at OTAs should have been a detriment for Tabor, but the reviews were good. Tabor was making plays and even picked off Matthew Stafford during the football that is barely even football season.
Loser: Nevin Lawson
If Tabor is starting, that leaves last year’s outside corner not named Darius Slay out in the cold. Nevin Lawson has been a serviceable if unspectacular starting corner for the Lions. He was a pleasant surprise as a day three pick from the Mayhew era that actually turned out to have game.
Lawson has been the cornerback equivalent of Leroy Hoard, the player who is credited with saying “Coach if you need one yard, I’ll get you three yards. If you need five yards, I’ll get you three yards” He is a tool in the box, but has not always been the right tool for every job.
Matt Patricia’s defense has historically played a lot of matchups. Losing the starting job would not mean Lawson would never see the field. He first impressed with preseason efforts as a slot corner in his rookie season. A move back inside could be a good thing, though Slot corners typically get paid less.