Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II was viewed as a potential third-round pick. The Lions got him in the fifth round on Saturday, No. 157 overall.
Abney said he was "definitely surprised" to be on the board for that long, but "man, the wait, don't even matter, man. I'm just glad to be a Lion." He said he "dropped a couple of tears" when the Lions called his name, raving about their culture and their coaches and calling it a "dream come true."
"The Lions just happened to be one of my favorite teams," Abney said. "So, everything is working out right."
A Texas native, Abney said he was first drawn to the Lions by Calvin Johnson and more recently by Dan Campbell.
Abney is a physical outside corner who had 12 passes defended and two interceptions last season, while allowing a completion percentage of 44.3 percent and a passer rating in coverage of 46.1, per PFF. The latter two marks ranked among the best in the country. He was flagged frequently the last two seasons, but the Lions haven't objected to handsy corners under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.
I can’t believe #ArizonaState CB Keith Abney II is still available entering Day 3.
He’s a fantastic competitor that’s racked up a lot of ball production in his career. Had such a good season at ASU, he’ll be an absolute steal for someone today. pic.twitter.com/OOG86SUr71
— Andy (@AndyyNFL) April 25, 2026
Abney played almost exclusively on the outside at Arizona State, but profiles as a corner who could bump inside and play some nickel. He's open to playing anywhere in the NFL. He could become a useful matchup piece for Kelvin Sheppard, who has built more flexibility into the Lions' defense this offseason after they operated primarily out of base last year.
Abney said his pre-draft contact with the Lions was limited to a couple Zoom calls, so landing in Detroit "caught me by surprise."
"I was like, 'Dang, the Lions don't like me,'" he said with a laugh. "But I guess they were just trying to play their cards sneaky. And I feel like they made a great decision. I'm glad to be here."
Per NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein, Abney's "coverage IQ and competitiveness are loud on tape. He pairs impressive instincts and recognition with the ball skills of a receiver.
Abney's top-end speed and agility are average to above-average, per his Relative Athletic Score, but his feistiness and instincts help make up for it. He could "become a problem for offenses as a pro nickelback," says Zierlein.
The Lions return starting corners D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold, assuming nothing comes of the criminal investigation in Florida to which Arnold's name has been linked. They also bring back depth pieces Rock Ya-Sin and Ennis Rakestraw, and signed Roger McCreary. But they could have an opening in the slot after the departure of Amik Robertson.
Abney should provide important depth on the outside, while competing with newcomers McCreary and Christian Izien for playing time at nickel. For the Lions, the value today feels good. It could look even better if Abney earns a role on defense as a rookie.
