The Detroit Lions selected Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II with the 157th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft today, adding a feisty, instinctive defensive back who multiple evaluators had projected as a third-round talent heading into the weekend. General manager Brad Holmes has built a reputation for finding contributors late in the draft, and Abney fits squarely into that pattern.
At 5 feet 10 and 188 pounds, Abney is undersized for a boundary cornerback at the NFL level, but the Lions were not drafting his frame. They were drafting his production, his football IQ, and an energy level that evaluators consistently flagged as contagious in the defensive backfield.
What Abney actually did at Arizona State
Abney appeared in 26 games across his final two seasons at Arizona State and intercepted five passes during that stretch. In 2025 he allowed just 44.4% of 72 throws in his direction to be completed, generating a 46.1 passer rating against him. He led the Sun Devils in pass breakups that season with 12, a number that reflects both his ball skills and his willingness to contest every throw rather than concede space.
He played primarily as an outside cornerback for Arizona State but expressed openness to moving to the slot during the scouting combine in February. That flexibility matters considerably for how Detroit plans to use him.
At No. 157 in the fifth, the Detroit Lions select…
Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State.
He was the highest-ranked player remaining on @dpbrugler‘s board at the time of his selection. Excellent value.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) April 25, 2026
Where the Lions fit him in
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard runs a scheme that can deploy versatile defensive backs in multiple alignments, and Abney projects most naturally as a nickelback at the professional level. His coverage IQ, zone recognition, and ability to undercut routes from depth translate better inside than outside, where his lack of length and top-end closing speed would be tested more consistently by larger boundary receivers.
His tackling is the part of his game that stands out beyond coverage. For a player his size, Abney is a reliable and physical tackler who does not shy away from run support, a trait the Lions specifically targeted in their Day 3 selections. Their earlier fifth-round pick, Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder, also reflected that emphasis on run defense.
The pick follows a position room need
Detroit carries some uncertainty in their defensive back room heading into training camp, primarily around health. Abney arrives as genuine competition rather than a placeholder, a player whose fifth-round draft slot does not reflect the level of production he delivered in college. Lance Zierlein’s third-round projection ahead of the draft made the 157th overall price particularly attractive for Holmes.
Analysts compared Abney’s profile to Upton Stout, a 2025 third-round pick who produced as a nickelback for San Francisco in his rookie season. Both players share similar frames, competitive temperaments, and transitions from outside cornerback to the slot at the professional level. Detroit is making a similar bet that the interior fit unlocks what the boundary projection left unclear.
What the Lions are getting
Abney’s coverage instincts show up loudest in zone, where his read-react ability and plant-and-drive quickness from depth allow him to undercut intermediate routes before receivers can settle. He is effective in press coverage at turning and anticipating route breaks, though he picks up penalties when the leverage battle extends past the initial jam.
His background in competitive inline skating for over a decade contributed to the athletic balance and core strength that make his physicality possible at his size. Missed tackles are rare on his tape, which is not something every undersized corner in this draft class can claim.
With four more picks remaining today, Detroit has addressed linebacker depth, cornerback depth, and run defense in the same draft cycle. Abney is the kind of pick that looks better in October than it does in April.