The Detroit Lions may have unearthed one of the biggest hidden gems of the 2026 NFL Draft. While the headlines have been dominated by early-round selections, fifth-round pick Keith Abney is already making waves with his winning mindset and remarkable versatility. And if you ask him, there’s no better place to start his professional journey than in the Motor City.
For Abney, hearing his name called by the Lions was far more than a career milestone—it was deeply personal. "Man, the wait don’t even matter. I’m just glad to be a Lion," Abney shared, his voice still carrying the weight of the moment. "It means everything. A great program, great culture, great coaches, great people around. I’m just blessed to be here. I’m feeling all the emotions—I dropped a couple of tears. It’s a dream come true." That raw emotion underscores just how much this opportunity means to the young defensive back.
One of the biggest reasons Detroit took a chance on Abney is his ability to line up across the defensive backfield. At Arizona State, he primarily played on the outside, but his experience runs much deeper. "I’m willing to play anything. I view myself as very versatile," Abney explained. "I just never got to play nickel at ASU because of the depth we had. I was actually the starting nickel going into my sophomore year, but then a guy on the outside transferred out, so I had to move back to the outside. This year, we had some injuries, so I stayed outside to keep elite play on the edge."
Don’t mistake that for a limitation. Abney made it clear he’s comfortable anywhere in the secondary. "There have been times where the coach said, ‘Hey, if he goes down, you’ve got to go in.’ So I know all the positions on the back end, and I have no problem playing inside or outside." That kind of flexibility is a coach’s dream and could allow Abney to see the field sooner than expected.
His college production backs up the confidence. Over three seasons at Arizona State, Abney hauled in six interceptions, with his 2025 campaign standing out as particularly impressive. He tied for the team lead with two picks, added two forced fumbles, and led all Sun Devils defenders with 12 passes defensed. Those are the kind of numbers that suggest Abney isn’t just a late-round flier—he’s a player ready to make an immediate impact in Honolulu blue.