One breakout candidate for each NFL team in 2018

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DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 31: Detroit Lions cornerback Teez Tabor (30) lines up across from Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) during a NFL football game between Detroit and Green Bay on December 31, 2017, at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

. Teez Tabor. . team. 50. . Cornerback

The Detroit Lions have a brand new head coach in 2018, as former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be taking over for Jim Caldwell. Patricia is looking to bring the Patriot Way to Detroit, and after just missing out on the playoffs last season, he has the talent to challenge in the NFC North in year one.

When it comes to the Lions defense, they have one of the deeper defensive backfields in the division. Guys like Glover Quin and Darius Slay are as good as it gets at their respective positions, and one player that should be able to step up and dominate in 2018 is second-year cornerback Jalen Tabor.

Tabor, who is a product of the University of Florida, appeared in ten games for the Lions during his rookie season in 2017, making one start. While he got some good experience last season, he will be expected to do much more than that this season, as he will be relied on to either start at cornerback, or be the team’s nickel corner.

The Lions will be playing a lot of nickel this season, so Tabor’s development is definitely something to keep an eye on this summer. He played a lot with the ones during organized team activities and minicamp, so the team is definitely hoping that he is someone who can come in during his second season and really put this secondary over the top.

Patricia loves big cornerbacks, and that is exactly what Tabor is. While he may not be the fastest player in the world, he is very good in coverage, and at 22-years old, has a lot of learning left to do.