ALLEN PARK -- Nobody expected the Detroit Lions to take Tracy Walker in the third round of last year’s draft. Not the experts. Not fans. Not even Tracy Walker himself.

“It definitely was a surprise,” Walker said with a laugh on draft night. “I didn’t expect it. I expected to be fifth round, to be honest with you.”

That’s what everyone expected, at best. Look, Walker was a nice player at Louisiana-Lafayette. But there wasn’t a major national draft analyst in the country who had Walker going on the first two days of the draft.

Yet when the NFL Network cameras panned into the Lions’ draft room after the pick, you would have just thought they landed a star. There were fists pumps and hugs and yelling and everything. It was just a strange sight, to see the Lions taking a guy no one had heard of, yet celebrating like they had just won the draft.

“Yeah, we were excited about the pick,” general manager Bob Quinn later said.

Now it’s easy to see why.

Walker developed quickly as a rookie last season. So quickly, he began stealing snaps from Glover Quin down the stretch. And then the Lions cut Quin this offseason, making Walker the obvious candidate to start alongside Quandre Diggs in Year 2.

He’s looked the part throughout the offseason too. He’s practiced well. He’s fast, and he’s smart, a pretty good combination for a safety. But more than anything, he’s long, and that should make him a ball hawk in time. Like on Wednesday, when he turned in perhaps the most disruptive practice of his young career.

Walker broke up Matthew Stafford passes intended for Logan Thomas and Andy Jones, plus intercepted another that was intended for T.J. Hockenson. I don’t have to tell you how good that Stafford-to-Hockenson connection has been in camp either, and this pick came in seven-on-sevens no less, a drill that strongly favors the offense.

But Walker sniffed out the route, jumped it, and an off-target pass by Stafford landed right in those long arms of his. It was at least his second pick of the week.

“I would say it’s from a little more than (just) film study,” Walker said. “I would say it’s actual reps, going through the motions and just practicing.”

Yeah, it’s those things. Playing behind Glover Quin for a season is as good of a football education as you’re going to get, and Walker is a smarter player for it. But I’m reminded of what Quin once said in the locker room last season: If he had Walker’s rangy frame, he would have intercepted 10 passes every year.

This guy looks born to play the position, and it’s a big reason why Walker could be poised for a breakout season as he steps into a starting role.

“When they see I’m out there competing and giving my all, I feel they understand if 47 is out there, (they’ve) got to be out here on (their) Ps and Qs,” Walker said. He later added, “I feel like everybody is physically gifted when you get to the NFL, but it’s the mental aspect where you have to slow it down.

"Y’all asked me previously before if the game is starting to slow down. Well, with me breaking down film, understanding the mistakes, learning, making the proper corrections, then bringing it out here and translating it from the film, that’s where I got better. That’s where I’ve seen a lot of improvement.”

Tracy, we’re all seeing it.

Here are some more observations from practice:

-- Walker wasn’t the only defensive back with a nice day. Teez Tabor forced at least four incompletions that I saw, one of which came against Kenny Golladay and the other three Marvin Jones. One of those plays to Jones was a deep ball, too, which has been Tabor’s weakness because of his long speed. But he’s made some nice adjustments in recent days, and has been hanging step-for-step with Jones. Here, Tabor looked back for the ball at the right moment and was able to make a physical play that did not draw a flag from the officials. Later he broke up a pass that was intended for Jones in the end zone. So, yeah. Tabor looks like he’s been able to carry over that momentum he built during a nice spring. He certainly looks like he’s on the right side of the roster bubble to me, and if he can earn the trust of coaches downfield, perhaps even give Rashaan Melvin a run for the starting job opposite Darius Slay.

-- Some of you are probably wondering if the defense was able to make so many plays, Matthew Stafford must not have been so great. And he wasn’t. Stafford’s been inconsistent in camp, and the last couple days have probably been his worst. The Walker interception is a good example. That occurred in seven-on-sevens, which means there’s no pass rush. Give Walker credit for recognizing the route and jumping it, but Stafford also threw behind Hockenson on the play, which allowed the ball to be picked. And Stafford had an even worse pass on Tuesday, failing to see Jahlani Tavai lingering over the middle of the field and throwing the ball right into him for another pick. Again, credit to the defender for making the play (and it was a great play by Tavai to deflect the ball to himself) but a better throw never allows that to happen. It’s important to remember the Lions are installing a new offense, and that’s tougher on a quarterback than anybody else. But Stafford hasn’t exactly been sharp, and that’s especially true downfield, where he struggled last year too.

-- A day after Kerryon Johnson got whooped in blitz-pickup drills, Detroit again opened practice by pitting the running backs against linebackers and safeties in the drill. Kerryon Johnson led it off again too. And again, he was beat by Jarrad Davis. Rather easily, actually. And after some colorful language from a coach, Johnson was asked to go again. This time, he handled Davis. Johnson also beat Tre Lamar, but lost reps against Jalen Reeves-Maybin and even Miles Killebrew. Now it must be said this drill heavily favors the defense. Still, not exactly what you’re looking for in your No. 1 back.

-- For what it’s worth, Kerryon Johnson practiced with a wrap on his left knee. That’s the same knee that cost him six games as a rookie because of injury.

-- C.J. Anderson has been the best running back in those blitz-pickup drills, by the way. But do you know who has surprised me the most? Ty Johnson. He’s just a little guy, and a rookie at that, but he’s really held his own. He also had some nice reps in one-on-one pass-catching drills against the linebackers, including beating some really good coverage from Miles Killebrew as he turned upfield. He also left Reeves-Maybin in his dust for an easy catch. Not bad for a guy who caught 29 passes in his career at Maryland.

-- Romeo Okwara returned to practice, but the Lions remained short handed in the front seven. Christian Jones, Da’Shawn Hand, Mike Daniels and Austin Bryant all sat out practice, along with guys like Trey Flowers (physically unable to perform list) and Snacks Harrison (non-football injury list). Hand was still sporting that big brace on his left arm, too. I’m not sure if it’s an elbow or bicep issue, but whatever it is seems like it’s going to hold out Hand for the foreseeable future.

-- Matt Patricia said he was eager to see which bench guy would step up in the wake of all those injuries on the defensive line. So far, it’s been Kevin Strong more than anyone else. The UDFA out of Texas-San Antonio has won a bunch of one-on-one reps, and even handed Graham Glasgow with his first loss of camp on Wednesday (according to my notes anyway).