Even with a new offensive coordinator in town, the Detroit Lions were largely set on that side of the ball with the pieces already in place. The defense, however, was a different story entirely. They ranked 20th in passing yards allowed per game (217.4) and 22nd in points allowed per game (24.3), and that's not good enough in the stacked NFC North.
Considering that, Lions GM Brad Holmes made sure to address all levels of the defense during the 2026 NFL Draft. However, out of all the picks he made, the selection of Keith Abney II in the fifth round might end up being the most impactful. It was a bit of a gamble, but it can certainly pay off.
Keith Abney II Can be a Star for the Detroit Lions
To get the negative out of the way first, Keith Abney II doesn't have the prototypical size and length of an outside cornerback. Also, he has struggled with a lack of discipline at times, and his tendency to gamble has put him in tough spots, leaving him exposed far too many times.
That said, he's the type of guy who plays bigger than his size suggests. That might sound like a cliche, but it doesn't mean it's false. His production, durability, and effort are those of a Day 2 pick, and with the Lions' shaky secondary, he might end up making the rotation right out of the gate.
Abney is smaller than the average player at the position, but he's certainly much more physical. Also, his athleticism helps him change directions, mirror his guy, and even recover when he's caught out of position. He's got elite eye-to-hand coordination to disrupt routes at the catch point, and he's got tremendous ball-hawking instincts.
Despite his shorter stature and lanky frame, he logged five interceptions and 21 passes defensed in his final 25 starts with the Arizona State Sun Devils. Also, opposing quarterbacks completed just 44.4 percent of their passes when going against him.
Some big boards had him going as early as the third round, so managing to steal him a couple of rounds later is certainly a huge win for Holmes and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Now, he should have a huge chip on his shoulder to prove why GMs messed up by letting him slip so much.
The Lions have Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed as their starting outside cornerbacks, but nothing should be set in stone right now. Arnold has either struggled mightily or been hurt since he entered the league, and Abney's presence should keep him on his toes.
Even if he never becomes a superstar, landing a starting-caliber cornerback with ball-hawk tendencies in the fifth round is great value for any team. He's got sleeper potential, and the Lions should give him a long leash to let him prove what he can do.
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