Nevin Lawson

There's a battle going on for slotting on the depth chart under 2017 first-team All-Pro Darius Slay. Lawson, DeShawn Shead and Teez Tabor are all in the mix, but it may not matter who ends up where, as all are expected to get considerable playing time within Matt Patricia's versatile and unconventional defense. This approach may very well benefit the Lions in real life, but it makes for a headache in the fantasy realm, and it may be hard to trust Lawson as an IDP option.

As Detroit’s 2014 fourth-round selection, Lawson has operated as the Lions’ starting right cornerback throughout training camp and figures to keep the role in advance of Week 1. Across 15 games in 2015, Lawson totaled 47 tackles and seven passes defensed. However, given the trajectory of Darius Slay’s emergence and Glover Quin patrolling the deep middle, Lawson projects to see increased attention from opposing quarterbacks in 2016 and could be poised for a bump in production.

A fourth-round pick in 2014, Lawson saw time in just two games as a rookie before a foot injury derailed his season. He collected a single tackle as a rookie, but figures to see a prominent role in 2015 behind Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis. Though he is likely to see most of his time in the slot in nickel and dime packages, don't be surprised to see him out on boundary to spell Slay or Mathis with the Lions' third-round pick Alex Carter on the shelf.

The Lions' secondary wasn't great last year, but there will be a lot of competition for time there. Lawson will be in the middle of the pack on the depth chart heading into training camp.