The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day for today is a cornerback who seems to “fit the grit” as we hit 50 days until the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit.
The daily focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with an emphasis on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.
Today’s prospect is a cornerback often overshadowed by his Tigers running mate, Ennis Rakestraw, but is an impressive prospect in his own right.
Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
Height: 5-foot-11 1/3″
Weight: 179 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)
Abrams-Draine began his Missouri career as a wide receiver out of the Mobile, Alabama, area. He played the final three seasons for the Tigers as a starting cornerback, beginning in the slot before spending most of the final two years outside. Abrams-Draine broke up 27 passes in the last two seasons, picking off four of those (all in 2022), registering 84 total tackles and 2.5 TFLs. He was first-team All-SEC in 2023. The 22-year-old also returned kicks earlier in his career and fielded punts and kickoffs during Senior Bowl week.
What I like
- Twitchy, quick mover with instant acceleration and great agility
- Understands what receivers are trying to do and anticipates routes and releases very well
- Plays with inside technique very well, knows how to press to the sideline
- High football IQ shows in his awareness and anticipation
- Can flip the hips and turn and run with decent long speed (4.44 40-yard dash)
- One of the best click-and-close corners in the class
- Plays the ball in the air well, excellent ball production
- Willing and aggressive in run defense
- Experience playing off-man and zone coverages
- Can stick on the hip of speed receivers on deep routes; stays in phase and keeps his designed leverage well
- Plays with ebullient confidence and enthusiasm
- Offers return specialist potential
- Gained seven pounds from the Senior Bowl to the combine and didn’t lose any speed
What worries me going into the NFL
- Lighter and weaker than ideal for the outside in the NFL even with the recent weight gain
- Bark is bigger than his bite in press coverage and also in run defense
- Will keep his eyes in the backfield too long in zone coverage at times
- Eyes get bigger than his height or (impressive) leaping ability can deliver against bigger, more physical receivers
Best game I watched: Georgia
Worst game I watched: Kentucky
Overall
Abrams-Draine is one of my favorite players in the entire draft. He earned that with his spirited, effective play and twitchy athleticism. He’s got the requisite length to play outside for the Lions and does have experience playing both man and zone–which Aaron Glenn mixes quite a bit in the Detroit defense. The primary drawback is his lack of bulk and physical strength. He’s not afraid to challenge bigger receivers but it just doesn’t go as well as hoped for the plucky Abrams-Draine.
His speed, quick route recognition and ball skills are all perfect fits in Detroit’s secondary. It’s a matter of deciding if Abrams-Draine can get stronger and hold up against the bigger/faster/stronger NFL wideouts he’ll face. I grade him in the top 60 overall, but Abrams-Draine generally projects in the third or fourth round.