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The Detroit Lions are considering Miami defensive back Keionte Scott for the 2026 NFL Draft. With picks No. 17 and 50, Scott could enhance the team's defensive backfield with his versatility and reliability.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive back Keionte Scott (0) reacts in the first half during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
With the 2026 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the Detroit Lions find themselves in a different spot from years past. After drafting largely for depth and developmental players the last couple of years, the Lions are in need of immediate contributors, and those players can be most easily found with either of their first two picksâNo. 17 and 50âon the first two days of the draft.
The Lions defensive backfield certainly has a lot of names, a mix of both veteran and younger players, but there are arguably more long-term questions across this group than any other positions on the team. Miami defensive back Keionte Scott could provide Detroitâs defensive backfield with versatility, reliability, and flexibility for a group in flux. Hereâs why Scott should be the pick at No. 50âor even sooner on Day 2 should the Lions make any moves.
Previously:
The Lions should draft Keionte Scott for his versatility, reliability, and ability to strengthen their defensive backfield.
The Detroit Lions hold the No. 17 and No. 50 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Keionte Scott plays as a defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes.
Scott could provide immediate contributions and address long-term questions in the Lions' defensive backfield.
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Keionte Scott is the just the type of player who fits the identity the Detroit Lions have cultivated since the arrival of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. Most specifically, his long road to the NFL is one that speaks to his resiliency and perseverance, all while choosing football as his vehicle to succeed and achieve both on and off the field.
Scott was originally a no-star recruit, unranked by 247 Sports and without the academic transcript to make it into a D-I school. Snow College, a junior college in Ephraim, Utah, was the trailhead of Scottâs journey, and heâs credited his JUCO experience for shaping his mentality, explaining that route gave him âa different hunger and an all-around gratefulness for the game.â Scott went on to be a two-time JUCO All-American at cornerback, and played in the 2021 NJCAA national title game.
The hunger and gratefulness football provided for Scott at Snow carried into his time at Auburn, where he embraced both opportunity and adversity, and that included overcoming an ankle injury he suffered in 2023 that required tightrope surgery. Typically, athletes donât return to competition for four to eight weeks, but Scott was sidelined for just three games before getting back on the field. Reflecting on that challenge, Scott noted that he learned to focus on growth rather than setbacks, and relied on his faith to keep him motivated.
âI just created a recipe throughout all my challenges,â Scott explained in regards to his process for working through adversity. âInstead of focusing on what is going on, I try to focus on the small things and what I can control. Itâs not, âWhy is this happening?â Itâs, âWhat can I learn from this?â Iâve learned to focus on what I can do better, keep my faith in God and just trust Him.â
âThat was a time when everything was on the line for me,â Scott recalled. âBeing able to come back and accomplish what I accomplished at the end of last year was super big for me. I felt like it gave a lot of my teammates hope and a lot of people around me hope. Being able to go through that tough time and get back on the field and, honestly, look like nothing ever happened was something Iâll never forget.â
That sort of emotional maturity, growth mindset, and playing to inspire the guy next to you aligns with the kind of accountability valued by Detroitâs coaching staff. According to an NFL Scout in Dane Bruglerâs The Beast, Scottâs âenergy could power the building,â and that sort of energy would help jolt a Lions secondary that didnât generate as many impactful plays that swung the momentum of games as they have previously.
Beyond the field, Scott was the first person in his family to graduate college, and his life is defined by gratitude, namely for Lakeisha Hayes, his mother, who he credited as the most influential person in his life.
âMy mom taught me everything I know,â Scott reflected. âEverything Iâve seen her do, and go through and be strong about, I try to resemble.â
Scottâs combination of resilience, pride, and love for what possibilities football can provide reflects the culture and identity-driven nature built by this current regime.
Some things were different for the Lions defense in Kelvin Sheppardâs first season as defensive coordinator, but nothing changed when it came to the kind of physical play they expect from their defensive backs. And if thereâs one thing you can expect from Scott, itâs physical play.
Those impactful plays from the defensive backfield that seemed fewer in between last yearâjust 10 TFLs, 10 INTs in 2025 vs. 17 TFLs and 15 INTs in 2024âcould use exactly the kind of playmaking Scott brings in the secondary. During Miamiâs run to the National Championship Game last year, Scott recorded 13 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptionsâboth of which were returned for touchdowns.
The play speed, the instincts, the physicality in the run game (PFFâs highest-graded run defender [91.4] at CB last year), itâs clear how Scottâs attitude fits what Detroitâs defense prides itself on: stopping the run. Heâs only 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, but meets the line of scrimmage like a linebacker and is unafraid to take on players nearly twice his size. Add in a 9.71 RAS and a 44-inch vertical and youâre talking about an explosive player Detroit can count on to click-and-close from around the line of scrimmage.
Across 756 snaps in 2025, Scott primarily lined up as a nickel corner (489 snaps, 65%) or a box safety (196, 26%) for the Hurricanes, and those alignment rates are interestingly similar to those of another fast-playing, instinctual defensive back Detroit drafted in 2023. Brian Branch played 736 total defensive snaps in his rookie season, 530 in the slot (72%) and 102 in the box (14%) per PFF.
The Lions added some veteran options during free agency to play nickel including Roger McCreary and Christian Izien, but both signings, much like the rest of Detroitâs free agency, were short-term, one-year deals. Scott could immediately compete with that group for defensive snaps, even if itâs in a more situational, blitzing role like the one Ifeatu Melifonwu was featured in during the 2023 season. And on top of that, Scott could help pitch in at safetyâthe position most draft analysts project him to playâto bridge the gap while Branch rehabs from his Achilles injury.
And beyond the subpackage roles for Scott, his experience on special teams will keep him on the field and contributing. He logged 280 special teams snaps, mostly on punt return coverage (166), during his four years at Auburn and Miami.
Anywhere you go for scouting reports or draft profiles will be quick to mention Scottâs ageâ25 in August of this yearâas a potential drawback. Overaged prospects is the new reality for the NFL Draft, and itâll be interesting to see how teams view these experienced but older players. On one hand, some teams may wonder why these players took so long to put it all together, and the question of how to handle a potential second contract is something Holmes spoke to the media about earlier this week.
âYouâve got to be prepared for that because itâs real, man,â Holmes said in regards to potential contract extensions for older rookies. âI say it like, âLook, (a) guyâs 24 or 25 years old now, and heâs going to be looking at 30 by the time the second contract comes.â Well okay, so how much longevity is it? Maybe he hasnât played a long time and he doesnât have much wear-and-tear, but Father Time is Father Time, too. You have to look at all of it, and it is case-by-case, but it is real, though.â
In the case of Scott, he was granted an exemption for eligibility for his JUCO years at Snow, but then played in the SEC at Auburn and was a key piece of a Hurricanes team that went to the National Championship. Thereâs not much, if any, doubt about his ability to matchup against top competition at the next level.
Scott is a bit on the smaller side at 5-foot-11, so covering bigger receiving threats who can leverage their height and length against him could be an issue, and while he has no fear in run defense, his play speed can cause him to miss tackles (15 in 2025).
No one knows whatâs going to happen between picks 17 and 50 in the 2026 NFL Draft, but you can bet Keionte Scott will likely go somewhere in between those selections.
Given the unique injury situation for the starters in Detroitâs safety room, thereâs a short-term and (potentially) long-term need at that spot beyond this season. The Lions have done an adequate job of shoring up the depth for 2026, but Scottâs positional versatility between safety and slot corner, and his fast, physical play style makes him a very appealing option for Detroit if heâs available at No. 50.