Detroit Lions: What can be learned from drafting Teez Tabor?

Draft Day controversy

Leading up to Draft Day, a bonafide holiday in the KCW home, Tabor’s stock dropped due to poor showings at the Scouting Combine and his subsequent Pro Day. The low-light of both events were Tabor’s times in the 40-yard dash (4.62 & 4.72, respectively), including his 20-yard times within those sprints. Those were not the only events that indicated that his athleticism might not be early-round material, though.

To be fair, he did not have a reputation for being beaten deep, despite his slow sprint times. Tabor’s 32-inch vertical jump, broad jump of 10-feet, 9 bench press rep’s, all additionally hinted at his limited upside, despite his college production and ability to play in off-man coverage.

For contrast, a high Round 1 pick has times that more closely match players like Marshon Lattimore, the first cornerback taken in 2017; the 6-0, 193 pounds, Ohio State product jumped 38.5 inches in his vertical jump, broad jumped 11 feet and ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. He was also a highly productive, man-cover college player.

From the start draftniks, pundits, and skeptical fans have disliked the selection of Tabor over other options available at pick 53 in the 2017 draft. If the Detroit Lions stuck with the same position and drafted another corner, Chidobe Awuzie (26 starts), Ahkello Witherspoon (19 starts), Fabian Moreau (7 starts), Jourdan Lewis (7 starts), and Cordrea Tankersley (11 starts as a rookie) were all sitting there.

The Lions also had pick 96 in Round 3, too, to address the position although selecting Kenny Golladay there has been a very good addition.