The Lions will look into a veteran cornerback Monday. They are set to work out Nickell Robey-Coleman, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson (on Twitter). Despite the calendar having flipped to August, this marks the first piece of Robey-Coleman news since he became a free agent in March.
Although Robey-Coleman played the 2020 season with the Eagles, his most prominent NFL work came in Los Angeles. The 29-year-old defender has ties to both Lions GM Brad Holmes and assistant GM Ray Agnew, with each being with the Rams throughout Robey-Coleman’s time with the team. Robey-Coleman spent three seasons with the Rams, playing in L.A. from 2017-19.
The new Lions HC and DC — Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn — were on the other end of Robey-Coleman’s defining play, his controversial collision with Tommylee Lewis near the end of the 2018 NFC championship game. The ex-Saints staffers will obviously not let that stop their new team from taking a look at the veteran slot defender. Robey-Coleman has eight years’ experience. If signed, he would join ex-Rams teammates Jared Goff and Michael Brockers in Detroit.
Robey-Coleman has been one of the league’s better slot defenders over the past several years, bouncing from Buffalo to L.A. to Philly. Pro Football Focus viewed the Rams’ version of Robey-Coleman as a high-end cover man, ranking him as a top-20 corner from 2017-19. PFF slotted him outside the top 80 during his one Eagles season, however. Robey-Coleman allowed a 78.8% completion percentage on passes thrown his way in 2020 — well north of his Rams marks.
The Lions have changed up their corner group considerably this offseason, cutting both Desmond Trufant and slot man Justin Coleman after injury-marred seasons. They signed Quinton Dunbar and drafted Ifeatu Melifonwu in the third round.
He can’t be worse than what the Lions started last year – could he?
The Lions had some talent last year but it was offset by the demoralizing effect that Patricia had on the team. His poor decisions cost the team more than a couple of games. You’ll see a much better attitude in Detroit this season.
Not to mention, Patricia repeatedly put his corners out to die in man to man coverage all day and never blitzed the qb.
Good luck. He was AWFUL in Philly last year.
Coin flip for me. Like 13morgs13 said, he was pretty bad in Philly last year. That being said, the nickel situation in Detroit right now is looking pretty awful. What hurt can it do. Maybe, he will perform better then last season.
Thank God Patricia is gone.