The Detroit Lions may have just found one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft. With the No. 157 overall pick in Round 5, Detroit landed cornerback Keith Abney II out of Arizona State, a player who checks far more boxes than his draft slot suggests. For a team looking to solidify its secondary depth and add competition, this is the type of move that can quietly pay off in a big way.
Keith Abney II Falls to Detroit Lions Despite Top-40 Grade
Abney’s résumé backs up the excitement. He was a key piece of Arizona State’s 2024 College Football Playoff run, piling up 52 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 9 pass breakups. He followed that with another strong season, posting 2 interceptions and 12 pass breakups while earning a 93.1 (A) PFSN CB Impact Score. At around 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, he is not overwhelming physically, but his play speed, instincts, and competitiveness consistently show up on tape.
The buzz around this selection was instant on PFSN’s “Football Debate Club” live NFL draft show.
“Lions making maybe the best pick so far,” PFSN NFL draft analyst Ian Cummings said. “Keith Abney, the second cornerback from Arizona State, landing with the Detroit.”
That reaction speaks to how highly Abney was viewed in scouting circles. Despite lasting into the fifth round, Cummings ranked him No. 37 overall, making the value gap hard to ignore.
“You’re getting Keith Abney II outside the top 50, Lions fans.”
The evaluation goes beyond just value. Abney’s tape shows a player who consistently wins with technique and awareness. He may not have elite long speed, but his ability to mirror receivers, stay connected through routes, and close quickly makes him a reliable presence in coverage.
“He’s such a good football player. He’s not the biggest, he’s not the fastest. But watch that Arizona State defense, he was an absolute clinic in coverage.”
Abney Positioned for Early Role With Lions
The fit in Detroit only makes this pick more intriguing. The Lions already have veteran D.J. Reed and young pieces like Terrion Arnold, but there are still questions about long-term consistency and availability. That opens the door for a player like Abney to carve out a role sooner rather than later.
Cummings pointed to the exact traits that could help him stick early. “I like his instincts and coverage, as well as the effort that he shows in run support,” Cummings said, highlighting the foundation of Abney’s game.
That combination shows up consistently on tape. Abney is fluid in changing direction, sharp in his processing, and aggressive at the catch point. He can line up in press-man or operate comfortably in off-man and zone looks, which gives defensive coaches flexibility.
As Cummings put it, “I think that he’s capable of defending those underneath sort of route concepts with that good downhill speed and that aggressive mentality,” a skill set that translates well to today’s quick-hitting passing attacks.
He also brings a physical edge that stands out for his size. Abney is a consistent tackler who wraps up well and competes in run support, something that often separates good corners from complete ones. That shows up in the finer details of his game, where, in Cummings’ words, he has “good ball tracking skills, good competitiveness of the catch point.”
The ceiling may not be defined by elite traits, but the floor is what makes this pick so appealing. Abney plays with urgency, confidence, and a clear understanding of his role, all signs of a player who can outperform expectations. “I think that he’s a high-floor type of guy, a high-energy player,” Cummings said.
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For a fifth-round pick, that combination of production, polish, and fit is hard to beat. If Abney develops the way his tape suggests, the Lions could look back at this moment as one of the smartest moves of their entire draft class.
