Bill

Bentley

Bentley created a ton of buzz during Senior Bowl week, when he held his own against some of the nation’s top-rated wide receivers. At 5-foot-10, 182, Bentley ran a 4.42 forty before the draft and caused ten career turnovers in the Sun Belt conference as a 44-game starter. With very small hands and short arms, Bentley’s best NFL position is likely slot cornerback.

Detroit was high on Green throughout the draft process and it sounds like he’ll enter a competition with No. 85 pick Dwight Bentley, No. 148 pick Chris Greenwood, and veteran Aaron Berry for a starting job. At 5'11/191, Green has 4.41 speed and is likely to end up contributing as no more than a dime back.

First-rounder Riley Reiff is the lone Lions draft pick still unsigned. NFL Films guru Greg Cosell has likened Bentley’s playing style to Asante Samuel’s, and he could emerge as a nickel back or even a starter opposite Chris Houston as soon as his rookie season. Bentley also has a nice skill set for a slot corner.

Berry missed the final three games of 2011 after dislocating his shoulder, and underwent offseason surgery. “I knew I needed to put more weight on my upper body in order for me to play a whole season,” Berry said. Berry will compete with Jacob Lacey, third-round pick Dwight Bentley and perhaps even fifth-round pick Chris Greenwood to replace Eric Wright at right cornerback.

Bentley has enjoyed a “consistently good camp” lining up with the first-team defense after the release of veteran Aaron Berry. It’s a good sign that the rookie is ahead of nickel candidates Jacob Lacey and Alphonso Smith, though the Lions still figure to be a plus matchup for opposing fantasy receivers.

Third-round rookie Bill Bentley started the first preseason game and veteran Jacob Lacey got the nod last week. The Lions haven’t named a starter for the third tuneup yet. Either way, we’d be surprised if they improved significantly on their 22nd-ranked pass defense from a year ago. Aaron Berry was penciled in as right corner, but the Lions were forced to cut him after numerous off-field issues.

A franchise beleaguered by off-field issues had enough of Berry’s antics. He was busted for DUI on June 26 and arrested again Saturday night after reportedly pointing a firearm at three different people. The firearm was loaded, according to police. Berry was penciled in as the Lions’ starting right corner, a job for which Alphonso Smith, Dwight Bentley and Jacob Lacey will now battle. It’s a blow to the Lions’ secondary.

It’s the way it’s supposed to be, seeing as Bentley was the highest draft pick. "(Bentley) looks like a polished college player, much better than I anticipated,” DC Gunther Cunningham conceded. Bentley is competing with Jacob Lacey for Lions nickel back duties. Chris Houston and Aaron Berry are starting.

Coach Jim Schwartz cautioned not to read too deeply into who got the first reps where, but with the Lions preferring Jacob Lacey in the slot, Smith should get the first crack at replacing Aaron Berry. Third-rounder Dwight Bentley is also in the mix at right corner.

It was Bentley’s first concussion. “Little weird,” Bentley said of sitting out Week 2. “It was just a normal concussion. They were just playing it on the safe side. They just felt it was in my best interests to sit out last week.”