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A run on cornerbacks shifted Detroit's fourth-round plans. They ended up with Utah State's Nevin Lawson, a small, tough cornerback they love. (AP File Photo)

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions drafted Arkansas' Travis Swanson to be their center of the future, then had to sit tight for 56 picks to get back on the clock.

And that wait turned out to be a painful one for Martin Mayhew.

Detroit was planning to go defense on Day 3, after sleeking offensive players in two of the first three rounds, and were targeting several cornerbacks.

But then one defensive back fell, and then another, and then another, and so on.

Eleven cornerbacks and four safeties were selected between the Swanson pick and Detroit's fourth-round selection, where it finally got its own corner in Utah State's Nevin Lawson.

"It was a long way down to those picks at the bottom," Mayhew said, and later adding, "We were targeting some defensive players. We had a list of defensive players when the fourth round started. Some of those guys went.

"We had a few offensive players there too, but we were leaning defense. We ended up getting two defensive players."

Though Mayhew spoke highly of Lawson, he likely was not the corner Detroit was originally targeting.

Maryland's Dexter McDougle, Rice's Phillip Gaines, Florida's Jaylen Watkins, Clemson's Bashaud Breeland, Duke's Ross Cockrell, Oklahoma's Aaron Colvin, Utah's Keith McGill, Wyoming's Marqueston Huff, Liberty's Walt Alkens, Lindenwood's Pierre Desir and N.C. State's Dontae Johnson were cornerbacks selected during that rush between Lions picks.

Safeties Terrence Brooks (Florida State), Maurice Alexander (Utah State), Tre Boston (North Carolina) and Brock Vereen (Minnesota) also were selected.

All told, Lawson was the 19th cornerback taken, and 29th defensive back overall.

He stands 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, making him an nontraditional cornerback for the Lions. He wasn't especially fast at the combine, either, running the 40-yard dash in just 4.50 seconds.

But Mayhew said he plays much faster than that and is thought to add versatility to the scheme.

"I think there are, obviously, corners of different sizes," Mayhew said. "This guy's not a tall one. I wasn't a tall one, so it's hard for me to be mad at him for not being tall. But he's a good football player.

"He's fast, he's got really good cover skills, quick feet. He can accelerate and burst to close on the ball, so he's got ability. I think in the NFL, a lot of times it seems like bigger is always better. At some positions like receiver and corner, sometimes it's better to be a lot quicker and move a lot faster if you're not so tall."

Lawson joins a crowded mix at cornerback, where the Lions return Rashean Mathis, Chris Houston, Darius Slay, Chris Greenwood and Jonte Green, plus signed Cassius Vaughn. Nate Ness and Aaron Hester also are on the roster as depth guys for camp, but are longshots to make the team.

Bill Bentley is back as the primary nickel man.

Lawson probably won't push for Mathis, Houston and Slay for a rotation spot, but could threaten Green and Vaughn for a spot on the final 53-man roster.

His greatest contributions, especially early, will come on special teams.

"I like to do everything," Lawson said. "I feel like I can do everything. I feel like I can blitz, I feel like I can tackle, I could play off, I could play press, I could play zone. Whatever I'm asked to do, I think I can do it as a corner.

"I want to be a complete corner."