Tape study: Dissecting pro-ready skills and areas of improvement for Lions rookie Abney
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions went into the 2026 draft with minimal roster holes requiring immediate attention, but several long-term needs worthy of being addressed in the event.
Among those needs was a nickel cornerback. The team had been priced out of being able to retain Amik Robertson, who held the role the past two seasons. To patch the void, the team signed some experienced veterans to low-cost, one-year deals, including Roger McCreary, Christian Izien and the returning Avonte Maddox.
The Lions understandably addressed more premium positions in the early rounds of the draft, taking an offensive tackle and edge defender with their first two picks, but were thrilled to find Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney still on the board in the fifth round.
Projected by most analysts as a Day 2 talent, Abney was a productive but undersized outside cornerback who the Lions project as a better fit in the slot.
“We evaluated Abney multiple times throughout this process, dating back to last fall,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said. “I think he might tilt a little bit more to nickel at this level, but I think he could play outside for sure. He’s another instinctive guy that he could find the football, he could trigger, he can tackle, he’s pretty sticky. He was just a simple one (to select) because we had him ranked a couple rounds higher than where he was, so that was a no-brainer for us.”
Let’s roll the tape on Abney to understand what the team identified in the incoming defensive back.
Games watched
2025: vs. Texas Tech, vs. West Virginia, @Iowa State, @Colorado
Note: Abney is No. 1 in the clips posted below