Detroit Lions camp quandary 2019: Sorting out the bubble players

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 30: Zach Zenner #34 of the Detroit Lions gets tackled by Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers and Tony Brown #28 during the first half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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Keeper: Jamal Agnew, Slot Corner/Punt Returner

If you noticed, we didn’t list any backups in the secondary. So, we’ll start there. Our first guy who makes a lot of sense is Jamal Agnew. Agnew ticks several boxes for the Detroit Lions. Firstly, he’s a Pro-Bowl caliber punt returner.

A player like Mike Ford or Marcus Cooper may slip in due to their flexibility in coverage and as experience behind starters like Slay but Agnew can flip the field position for the offense.

Agnew was close to being the starting slot corner prior to being injured last year, but even with the signing of Justin Coleman, it is a spot that is featured in many formations of the Matt Patricia defense which employs five defensive backs as a base set. The slot cornerback has to match up well with quick, elusive smaller receivers and Agnew’s speed allows him to do just that.

At the bottom of the roster, special teams contributions are often what the team is most looking for. That bodes well for Agnew if he regained his 2017 form.

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