Arizona State CB Keith Abney II taken in 5th round by Lions in 2026 NFL Draft

Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II was picked 157th overall in the fifth round by the Detroit Lions in the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday.

He was the third Sun Devil selected after Jordyn Tyson was picked eighth and Max Iheanachor 21st in the first round.

Abney played 90.2% of his defensive snaps over the past two seasons as a boundary corner, but NFL experts project him to move inside to nickel at the next level due to his 5-foot-9.75 frame and short-area quickness that’s especially effective when defending the run.

The former youth speed skating star is coming off an outstanding season where he led FBS cornerbacks in coverage snaps without allowing a touchdown (458), per PFF. He did this allowing catches on 44.4% of his targets, a number that only three players in the top 90 of snaps beat.

His slight stature and 13 penalties over the last two seasons (six in 2025, seven in 2024) were likely the biggest factors in the corner slipping after he was widely projected as a Day 2 prospect.

Keith Abney II’s road to NFL Draft

Abney played all three of his collegiate seasons with the Sun Devils, growing into a draft pick after he was outside the top 1,200 overall prospects in the 2023 class.

Over the past two seasons, he led ASU in passes defensed (21 combined) and interceptions (five). Both of his 2025 snags came in clutch moments, including one interception that sealed a win against West Virginia and another late in a win against Baylor that swung momentum in favor of ASU when neither team could get a stop.

He benefitted greatly from practicing against Tyson for multiple seasons. The receiver has called Abney one of the smartest players he’s played with and praised his technical work.

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