Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed had a bit of a down season in his first with the team, having played just 11 games thanks to a nagging hamstring injury. That injury slowed him down a bit in coverage when he did return to the field, but he did manage to generate two interceptions and seven passes defended despite his shortened season.
Assuming he's healthy and back to looking like himself from his New York Jets days, he'll be a huge contributor towards the Lions' defense bouncing back in 2026.
And, if ESPN's Matt Miller's professional comparison for new defensive back Keith Abney II comes close to being accurate, it sounds like the Lions will have two Reed's on the roster in 2026.
"Arizona State defensive backs coach Bryan Carrington texted me his comparison for Abney in the weeks before the draft --D.J. Reed. Abney will get to learn under Reed as the two join forces in Detroit. A slot cornerback with 4.45 speed, Abney is a menace at the line of scrimmage and a playmaker when the ball is in flight. His tape screams starter, and having an opportunity to learn under Reed will only boost his impact."
Abney earns apt comparison to Lion set for huge bounceback
Abney is more of a slot corner than an outside corner, which is Reed's domain. But, he has the speed and athleticism to get better in coverage over time. It's just his size, at just 5-9, that makes that transition a little harder to imagine. Still, as Miller wrote, he's an aggressive playmaker who can still make a quarterback struggle in the air.
Abney had 44 total tackles in addition to one sack, two interceptions, 12 passes defended, and two forced fumbles in his final year with Arizona State.
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There's a good competition set to take place during the Lions' offseason workouts and training camp at the nickel, with Roger McCreary, Christian Izien, Abney, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. all competing for starting snaps. That's a major improvement over the "Legion of Whom" that Detroit was forced to rely upon in 2025 after injuries completely ravaged their secondary.
If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, then it must be a duck, right? Well, if Abney is being heralded as a draft steal, looks like a draft steal, and is already talking like a Lions player - with tons of energy and motivation - then it's hard to dismiss his potential as a found starter in the 5th round of the draft.
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