Teez

Tabor

The move comes after Jamal Adams (torn quad) was lost to season-ending injured reserve. A journeyman, Tabor made one start across six appearances for the 2021 Bears.

The ex-Lions made six appearances in Chicago last season after earning zero regular season caps in 2019-20. Although he is a former second-rounder, Tabor is a pure end-of-roster flier, one who will have to work hard to crack the 53-man roster, even in Atlanta.

It was with a non-football injury designation. The No. 53 overall pick of the 2017 draft by the Lions, Tabor was among Detroit’s final cuts last summer before spending the year on the Niners’ practice squad. Tabor has good length at 6'1/199 but tested extremely poorly from an athletic standpoint when he came out of Florida. Now 24, he’ll look for his third team.

Despite Tabor’s miserable pre-draft workouts coming out of Florida, Lions GM Bob Quinn pulled the trigger on the now-23-year-old corner at No. 53 overall in the 2017 draft. A perennial bust by all accounts, Tabor was healthy-scratched for the first five games of his career and struggled to compete with Nevin Lawson as depth last season. Standing 6’1/199, it’s possible Tabor moves to safety with a fresh start elsewhere.

This is the only time of year we blurb Tabor, who has struggled to make an impact since entering the league as the No. 53 overall pick of the 2017 draft. Despite reporter Dave Birkett’s 53-man roster pessimism, he does point out that Tabor has been running as a starter in Darius Slay’s absence, and making plays to boot. Coach Matt Patricia has had positive words. “He’s still a young player, and he’s really attacked that from an aspect of going at it with a fresh set of eyes,” Patricia said. “On the field, I think he’s really trying to improve his technique, and he’s really trying to play patient.” Slay, Justin Coleman and Rashaan Melvin are currently slotted in as the Lions’ top three corners.

Tabor (6’1/199) made 26 starts in three years as a Gator, tallying 33 pass breakups and nine picks, three of which he returned to the house. He was named first-team All-SEC by the conference’s coaches as both a true sophomore and junior. PFF College charted Tabor with just a 41.2 passer rating and two touchdown passes allowed in his college career. Tabor’s NFL prospects came under intense scrutiny when he bombed pre-draft workouts, running 4.62 with a 31-inch vertical. Despite strong college tape, Tabor’s athletic limitations are a major concern for his NFL outlook.

Selected with the No. 53 overall pick, Tabor actually pulled the hamstring in his final pre-draft workout, which was with the Lions. Tabor didn’t show much athleticism at the Combine with a 4.62 forty and 31-inch vertical, but Tabor flashed when on the football field. He should have a chance to earn the starting job opposite Darius Slay as a rookie in a weak cornerback group.

The 53rd pick in April, Tabor injured his hamstring in pre-draft workouts and had been rehabbing. Back on the field, Tabor has been impressing teammates and DC Teryl Austin. “He has size and length, so he doesn’t get swallowed up by the bigger receivers,” Austin said. “He’s able to get in there and really mess with them and get his hands on them and play with them a little bit. He does a really good job of getting his body in front of receivers and making it hard for them to get down the field.” Tabor has a shot to start opposite Darius Slay.

Tabor was the 53rd overall pick in last year’s draft but opened his rookie season as a healthy scratch the first five weeks. He was able to crack the rotation by late season and is now pushing for the starting gig at a deep cornerback spot in Detroit. Tabor (6'/201) has good size but 4.62 speed and a 31-inch vertical were question marks last year. Nevin Lawson is his main competition.