Detroit Lions: Improving secondary will play essential role in 2017

Set to face a plethora of top tier quarterbacks in 2017, the Detroit Lions will look to a steadily improving secondary to remain competitive.

The NFL is a passing league now. This saying has become one of the most overstated cliches in professional sports over the last half decade, but its truth is inarguable. In an era that has seen passing numbers inflate to absurd levels, it is absolutely vital for franchises to establish talented and productive secondaries. It is for this reason that 29 of the first 101 picks of the 2017 NFL Draft were spent on defensive backs. This is a staggering number, but ultimately a byproduct of the times.

The Detroit Lions are well aware of the importance of building a solid back end. Playing in a division with Aaron Rodgers tends to have that effect on a franchise. In 2016, the Lions ranked 19th against the pass, allowing 3,975 yards through the air over the course of the season. This figure, while certainly not horrific by any means, will need to improve for the Lions to find success in 2017.

Taking a look at the team’s schedule this season, it is clear that the secondary is going to be challenged early and often. Some of the opposing quarterbacks the Lions will face this year include Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton, and naturally, two games against the aforementioned Rodgers. That’s a veritable who’s-who of Super Bowl winners, league MVP’s, and Pro Bowlers. If the Lions want to compete with passers like that, they’re going to have to be strong in coverage.

Of course, in order to field an effective pass defense, a team has to find the right personnel. While there are many important players who will have a role in the secondary’s success or failure, it all starts with veteran safety Glover Quin, who is arguably the straw that stirs the drink not only in the backfield, but on the defense as a whole.

Since signing with the Lions in 2013, Quin has been consistently reliable, providing veteran leadership and steady on-field production in the process. In fact, his seven interceptions in 2014 earned him his first Pro Bowl selection, and his 16 picks over the past four seasons lead the team.

Now 31, and in a contract year, it is unknown what the future holds for Quin and the Lions. Recent reports indicate that the ninth-year pro is looking to sign an extension with the franchise, as the veteran recently had this to say (per Carlos Monarrez of The Detroit Free Press):

"“Yeah, I would love to be here in Detroit.”“If I sign an extension I’ll probably obviously finish my career here. That would be huge for me.”"

While no word has emerged as to whether the Lions are interested in entering negotiations at this time, it’s logical to assume that the team desires a reunion as well. Quin has been too consistent for the organization to allow him to just walk out the door. It is likely that his situation will become more of a priority once the contracts of Matthew Stafford and Ezekiel Ansah have been addressed.

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While Quin might be the ultimate key to the secondary’s success, cornerback Darius Slay is likely the best overall player in the team’s back seven. A fifth-year player out of Mississippi State, Slay has improved each season of his NFL career, and has emerged as one of the better corners in the game. While not a ballhawk in the traditional sense (only six interceptions in four seasons), “Big Play Slay” has become one of the league’s best in coverage, and has produced numerous game-breaking moments as a Lion.

Although he has yet to be selected to his first Pro Bowl, he has played at an elite level in each of the past two seasons. While he has been perpetually underrated and doesn’t carry “household name” recognition, Slay is still improving as a player, and the 26-year-old could have his best season yet in 2017. There is little doubt that he and Quin are the stars of the Lions’ defensive backfield, and the sort of building blocks the team has long desired.

Nevin Lawson is another largely unrecognized member of the Lions secondary, but that may be about change. The former fourth-round pick goes seemingly unnoticed, but is slowly proving himself as a solid defender at the NFL level. In fact, despite being the 133rd overall selection of the 2014 draft class, Lawson has allowed the fewest yards per coverage snap of any of his peers over his first three years in the league (per Pro Football Focus):

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/861693119464710145

While it’s true that Lawson has yet to force his first NFL turnover of any kind, it’s clear that he is an improving player, and has the versatility to play outside (where he spent much of 2016) or in the slot. Last season marked a step forward for the Utah State alum and with continued progress, he could become a very valuable member of this team.

But what about the rest of the team’s returning secondary? At first glance, it appears to be a collection of veterans and young, unproven players like cornerbacks Alex Carter and Quandre Diggs. Both of these men were drafted in 2015, but to this point, Lions brass still doesn’t have a real sense of what they’re capable of.

Carter, a third-round pick, has struggled to get on the field as he missed his entire rookie season with an ankle injury. In 2016, he didn’t make the team’s final roster and spent most of the season on the practice squad, before finally getting the call-up and playing a total of four special teams snaps against the Dallas Cowboys in late December.

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Quandre Diggs (28) defends against Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (15) at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Lions won 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Things have gone a little better for Diggs, who spent much of 2016 as the Lions’ starting nickel corner, but he endured his fair share of struggles before ultimately sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in early December. The team still has high hopes for him and he remains the favorite to open the season in the slot, but there is definitely added pressure with more and more competition in the mix.

At safety, former New England Patriots second-rounder Tavon Wilson is likely to retain his starting role opposite Quin this season. But keep an eye out for second-year man Miles Killebrew, who flashed potential in 2016. A fourth-round selection in 2016, Killebrew is a physical player with significant upside, who may very well force his way onto the field with his ferocious determination.

Solid special teams players and occasional contributors like Don Carey and Johnson Bademosi remain in the mix as well, ready to step in at a moment’s notice, should the situation call for it.

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Clearly, the Lions have some solid returning players, but in order to take the next step forward, general manager Bob Quinn had some re-tooling to do as the offseason began. With free agency and the draft approaching, there were multiple avenues to be explored in the hopes of solidifying this unit, and the sophomore GM met the challenge head on.

Quinn’s opening salvo was signing former Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden to a one-year deal that could be worth up to $5.25 million. The move raised some eyebrows, as the former 12th overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft has yet to enjoy a productive season in the league. With that said, this contract is heavy on incentives, and if Hayden fails to meet them, the Lions aren’t on the hook for such an exorbitant salary. If he does reach them, however, it means he will have contributed meaningfully, and the money will have been well-spent.

Hayden was a top-15 pick for a reason, but numerous injuries have derailed his career. If he can stay healthy and flash some of the talent that made him such a hot commodity in college, then the Lions may have found themselves a steal. Hayden figures to compete for a role both on the outside and in the slot this season.

Quinn also spent second and fifth-round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft on Teez Tabor and Jamal Agnew, respectively. Tabor, in particular, is expected to be an essential long-term contributor on the back end. The former Florida Gator was a potential first-round pick before concerns about his speed dropped him into round two. Obviously, the Lions saw something special in him, and in fact, Quinn claims that he watched more film of Tabor than any player he had ever scouted (per Tim Twentyman).

It’s unclear what Tabor’s immediate role will be, but it is certain that the team has high hopes for a player they selected in the second round of an incredibly deep, cornerback-rich draft. Agnew, on the other hand, is a speedster who projects as a future slot corner and potential punt returner at the NFL level.

By adding some new faces to a steadily-improving secondary, the Detroit Lions are primed to enter the upcoming season. With a solid combination of reliable veterans and upside youngsters, the team is prepared to take a committee approach to pass defense in 2017. While this may not be the most star-studded defensive backfield in the NFL, the organization is hoping they have accumulated enough talent to oppose the elite caliber signal callers they are set to face.

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It will be extremely hard for the Lions to earn a second consecutive playoff berth if this unit doesn’t find success, but after all of Quinn’s offseason maneuvering, there is clearly cause for optimism that they will.

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