Will Harris played 317 snaps for the Detroit Lions last year as a free safety, 238 as a slot cornerback, 227 as a wide cornerback and 195 as a box safety. Harris did a little bit of everything for Detroit's defense last year.
When asked recently where he views Harris heading into 2022, Lions head coach Dan Campbell smiled and referred to Harris as a "cafety."
"He's a hybrid," Campbell said. "He really is. He's a jack of all trades. I think Will – part of his strength is his versatility. That's one of his greatest attributes, which we came to find out last year."
Harris started the year at safety, but after the team lost cornerbacks Jeff Okudah, Ifeatu Melifonwu, AJ Parker and Jerry Jacobs to injuries during the course of the season, Harris was moved to cornerback where he showed he could play both inside and outside, if needed. He played the slot when Parker was put on injured reserve in November, and moved outside when Jacobs was lost to an ACL tear in December.
"We would have not known that (he could play corner) had we not had the injuries and COVID and everything else," Campbell said. "I think he's a jack of all trades."
Harris, who was a third-round pick by the Lions in 2019, recorded 93 tackles (62 solo) with four passes defended, one sack and one forced fumble last season. Opposing passers completed 73.4 percent of the passes thrown his way with a 123.0 passer rating, and he was credited by Pro Football Reference with allowing five touchdowns. Only one of those touchdowns came while he was playing safety.
More importantly, he showed coaches he's willing and able to play multiple roles on defense, and there's value in players like that.
The Lions have no clear starter to pair with Tracy Walker at safety ahead of the NFL Draft later this month, though Lions general manager Brad Holmes has said this is a strong defensive back class. The Lions have five picks in the Top 100 and could certainly look to add to the position in the first few rounds.
View photos of the top safety prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine (16) tackles South Carolina running back Kevin Harris (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards is tackled by Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine during the first half of the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine (16) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
FILE - Notre Dame defensive back Kyle Hamilton is shown during an NCAA football game on Monday, Sept. 2 , 2019, in Louisville, Ky. Spring practices have seen the defense learning new schemes. The secondary again will be led by All-America free safety Kyle Hamilton, who is recovering from ankle surgery and not participating this spring. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble, File)
Notre Dame defensive back Kyle Hamilton (14) dives into the end zone for a touchdown on a 34-yard interception as New Mexico quarterback Sheriron Jones (4) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Notre Dame defensive back Kyle Hamilton (14) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in South Bend, Ind.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker (1) attempts to intercept a pass intended for Auburn wide receiver Demetris Robertson (0) on the final play of their NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept.18, 2021.Penn State defeated Auburn 28-20. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker (7) tackles Michigan tight end Nick Eubanks (82) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker (1) breaks up a pass intended for Maryland wide receiver Rakim Jarrett (5) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Michigan's Daxton Hill, right, intercepts a pass intended for Rutgers' Isaih Pacheco, left, as Michigan's Vincent Gray, center, defends during the third overtime of an NCAA college football game early Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. Michigan won 48-42. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Michigan defensive back Daxton Hill plays against Michigan State in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan defensive back Daxton Hill (30), defended by Army defensive back Cam Jones (20), rushes for 25 yards after receiving a pass on a fourth down fake punt in the first quarter of an NCAA football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Michigan won 24-21 in double-overtime. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Toledo defensive back Tycen Anderson (1) tackles Brigham Young running back Emmanuel Esukpa (33) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Toledo defensive back Tycen Anderson (1) in action against the Brigham Young during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Toledo defensive back Tycen Anderson (40) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 6, 2022. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Detroit is a little deeper at cornerback after the signing of veteran Mike Hughes in free agency and the return of last year's No. 1 cornerback, Amani Oruwariye, along with Melifonwu and Parker. Okudah and Jacobs could also return to the field sometime this summer.
But in Harris, the Lions know they have a player who can move around and play in a lot of different spots. Entering his fourth season, Harris is in the last year of his rookie contract and will no-doubt be looking to have a breakout 2022 season, wherever he settles in at.
"We're still talking right now. You just go out Day 1 and do you put him at corner? Do you put him at safety?" Campbell said. "And I'll be honest with you, we haven't just locked that down right now. We're still kind of talking about it and that's not a bad thing."
