Detroit Lions: 8 Players who could be gone in 2019
By Zac Snyder
Teez Tabor
As Teez Tabor’s second NFL season winds down, it is obvious making him a second round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft was a huge mistake. Quinn bet that Tabor could buck the trend with his poor athletic profile and the bet has blown up in his face. Matt Patricia has maintained that Tabor is doing what they are asking in practice and making progress, but Tabor is scarcely seeing the field if he’s active at all on game day.
When a second round pick can’t get on the field ahead of an undrafted rookie free agent (Mike Ford), there is a very big problem.
Unlike most of the rest of this list, there might not be a quick “stay or go” answer on Tabor’s future. For as much as he has been a disaster of a draft pick, there is not anything that necessitates moving on right away. Rosters expand to 90 players in the offseason so the Lions can wait a while, bring him through their offseason program and another whole training camp before making a final decision.
If Tabor hasn’t truly earned a roster spot by that point he has to be let go no matter how big of a bruise that might be to Bob Quinn’s ego.
Tabor’s hold on a roster spot is all about his ability to actually play, but there are some minor financial ramifications. He is set to count about $1.3 million against the 2019 cap but would free a little under $500,000 if released while leaving behind about $824,000 in dead money. The cap savings would end up being more of a cap-neutral move if he is replaced by a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.