Keith Abney II arrived at Arizona State as a slot/nickelback corner, but an injury changed that path fast. He was pushed outside and stayed there for the rest of his college career, and the Detroit Lions may need him to lean on that experience again.
That possibility is part of why Abney looks like such an interesting fit after Detroit grabbed him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He had been projected by many to go in the third round, and his drop was linked to his size and the penalties that followed him. Even so, the Lions’ selection has been viewed as one of the bigger steals in the draft.
After the pick, general manager Brad Holmes said Abney may "tilt" toward nickel in the NFL, but believes he can play the outside. If that ends up being his main lane, there’s also a built-in learning opportunity behind veteran Roger McCreary, who signed a one-year deal with the team in March.
For now, Detroit is keeping the door open. Abney has been working at both outside and inside with the second team during minicamp, while also getting special teams reps as a gunner. That kind of split usage suggests the Lions are still figuring out exactly where he fits before training camp begins in late-July.
The outside corner picture, though, is not exactly settled. Terrion Arnold’s release after his arrest is one factor, and D.J.
Reed’s status adds another layer of uncertainty. Reed is coming off a season-ending hamstring injury and flew out of the country for stem cell treatment during the offseason, so how he looks once games start again remains to be seen.
That leaves open the possibility that both outside corner spots could be available at some point between now and the end of the 2026 season.
Detroit’s depth at the position is thin as things stand. Rock Ya-Sin stood out while filling in for Reed last season and would likely be Dan Campbell’s first choice from the internal options.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is healthy again and will try to earn a backup role on the outside during camp. After that, veterans Nick Whiteside and Khalil Dorsey are among the names who could step in if needed.
Abney might not be the first name the Lions picture when they think about outside corner help this season. But if his college track record is any guide, he’s already shown he can handle the switch - and maybe hold onto it.
In Other News...
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Taylor Deckers offseason has been unusually quiet for a player who spent so long as one of Detroits most dependable pieces. After requesting his release in March, the veteran left tackle is still on the market as July nears, and his reluctance to jump to a division rival like the Bears has helped narrow the list of possible fits. For now, the search is less about a splashy return than finding a place where he can still make football sense.
Pittsburgh has been mentioned as a potential landing spot because of its need at left tackle, but nothing about Deckers next step feels straightforward. He has been weighing whether the right opportunity will even come along, and the longer he remains unsigned, the more this starts to look like a situation that could end without a new destination at all. For Detroit, it leaves open the possibility that a familiar face simply fades out of the picture rather than appearing in another uniform. [Read more 🡒]
Rock Ya-Sin Suddenly Sits At Center Of A Lions Concern
Rock Ya-Sin has become a much more important piece in Detroits cornerback picture than the Lions probably envisioned when they brought him back on a one-year deal. With the secondary suddenly needing stability, the veterans background, durability and ability to hold up in coverage have pushed him into a conversation that is less about depth and more about whether he can be trusted to handle a bigger role.
The Lions like his experience and the presence he brings to the room, and that matters even more when a position group is trying to absorb a major shakeup. Still, Detroit may not be done looking for help at corner, which leaves Ya-Sin in a spot that is both useful and unsettled as the team tries to sort out how much it can ask from him this season. [Read more 🡒]