When the 2019 free agency period opened the Detroit Lions aggressively targeted and signed slot cornerback Justin Coleman, aiming to improve one of the weakest positions on the roster.
In a recent article, Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) Austin Gayle called Coleman an underrated talent at slot cornerback and significant upgrade for Detroit, concluding that he believes the “Lions’ brass was smart to jump at the opportunity to sign the 26-year-old standout to a long-term deal”.
“Among the 31 players with 400 or more snaps played at slot cornerback in the last two seasons combined,” Gayle said, “Coleman ranks fourth in slot coverage grade at 84.3. He also ranks eighth in forced incompletion percentage (12.7%) and seventh in passer rating allowed (84.5).”
As Gayle stated, this is a significant upgrade from what the Lions had last year. The season began with Jamal Agnew as their starting slot corner but he was injured in game five and the Lions had no answer to replace him. The rotating door of players led to a PFF ranking of 31st and Football Outsider DVOA ranking of 32nd in slot receiver coverage for the Lions.
Gayle would go on to discuss what makes Coleman a terrific slot corner, why slot cornerbacks are more valuable in today’s NFL and how he fits in with the Lions secondary players.
“Not only does Coleman give Detroit a top player to replace its slew of misfits in the slot in 2019, but he also will allow Matt Patricia & Co. to feel more comfortable leaving Slay at outside cornerback, where he’s proven to be at his best. Slay ranked just 14th in coverage grade from all alignments last season at 78.4, but his coverage grade at outside cornerback (85.8) ranked inside the top-three among qualifiers.”
This is another offseason move by general manager Bob Quinn that gets better the longer you look at it.
