Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions had another solid draft according to a lot of NFL pundits. The team addressed its offensive tackle issue in the first round and several defensive concerns on the second two days.
With one of those defensive selections, the Lions landed Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney II.
NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice loved the pick. So much, in fact, Filice identified Abney as the biggest sleeper for Lions in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Abney doesn’t blow you away with speed or size, but the 5-10, 187-pounder plays with an endearing chip on his shoulder, providing physicality and premium ball production (SEE: five INTs and 21 PBUs over the past two seasons),” wrote Filice. “The fierce cover man spent his three years at Arizona State as an outside corner, but his best NFL role could come in the nickel.”
Campbell’s defense has experienced both health and performance issues in the secondary for a few seasons. Statistically, the Lions improved in pass defense during 2025 but only moved up to 20th in passing yards allowed.
With that in mind, Abney could play a role in Detroit with the team trying to take another step with its secondary this fall. The Arizona State product was the only defensive back the Lions selected in April’s draft.
The Lions grabbed Abney at No. 157 overall in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lions Take ‘Instinctive’ Cornerback
In three seasons at Arizona State, Abney became a reliable starter. He particularly shined during his last two campaigns after the Sun Devils transitioned to the Big 12.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes implied it was an easy decision to select Abney.
“He’s another instinctive guy that he could find the football, he could trigger, he can tackle, he’s pretty sticky. I was just – he was just a simple one because we had him ranked a couple rounds higher than where he was, so that was a no-brainer for us,” said Holmes.
As a junior last year, Abney posted 44 combined tackles, including one for loss. He also had 12 pass defenses, two forced fumbles and a sack.
Lions CB Depth Entering 2026 NFL Offseason Workouts
Without a Detroit rookie minicamp this offseason, Lions fans will have to wait for the team’s offseason workouts to see Abney and the other team’s rookies at the Lions facility. The Lions will hold their next round of offseason workouts from May 27-29.
The rookie is one of nine cornerbacks who are competing for roles behind presumed starting cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed.
Free agent signing Roger McCreary will likely be the team’s starting nickel back. After that, though, jobs appear to be open.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is the biggest name of the remaining eight cornerbacks previously referenced. The Lions grabbed Rakestraw in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
But Rakestraw has played only eight games in two seasons. Last year, he missed all of the 2025 campaign because of shoulder surgery.
SI on Lions’ Christian Booher listed Rakestraw and veteran Rock Ya-Sin as the team’s “backup cornerbacks” on his projected post-draft defensive depth chart. Booher then included Abney on his list of “reserve” cornerbacks.
Along with Abney, the Lions writer also included Khalil Dorsey, Nick Whiteside, De’Shawn Rucker and Aamaris Brown among the team’s reserve cornerbacks.
Abney has potential to be the team’s top sleeper pick from 2026. But first, he will have to beat out those other potential reserve cornerbacks for a roster spot.
Lions New CB Dubbed Biggest Potential NFL Draft Sleeper