INDIANAPOLIS – Lions general manager Bob Quinn made it very clear Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that he has a ton of respect for Glover Quin. Quinn said he leaned on the veteran safety when he first came to Detroit to take over as GM.
But in the end, the NFL is a business, and it was time for the Lions to give some of their youth at the position an opportunity to play, which is why the team released Quin earlier this month. The future at safety now looks to be Quandre Diggs and last year's third-round pick, Tracy Walker.
The Lions know what they have in Diggs, a Pro Bowl alternate this past season and an ascending player at the position.
In Walker, the Lions have a young, rangy, lengthy playmaker who impressed as a sub-package player as a rookie. What can he do in a bigger role? By Pro Football Focus grading standards, Walker was a top 16 safety in the NFL as a rookie getting limited snaps.
View photos from general managers and head coaches speaking to the media on Day 1 of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
NFL Scouting Combine podium on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions executive vice president & general manager Bob Quinn talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions executive vice president & general manager Bob Quinn talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions executive vice president & general manager Bob Quinn talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions executive vice president & general manager Bob Quinn talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cincinnati Bengals general manager Duke Tobin speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Jets head coach Adam Gase speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Denver Broncos general manager John Elway speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cleveland Browns General Manger John Dorsey speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Purdue won 73-56. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Purdue won 73-56. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Houston Texans general manager Brian Gaine speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
"We'll see who's going to be the starters next year when we get there," Lions head coach Matt Patricia said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "There will be competition all the way through, but I think he's (Walker) someone who made a lot of great strides through the past year."
Walker showed early on he could be a playmaker, intercepting San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo late in a Week 2 game that could have helped the Lions secure a victory, if not for a holding penalty away from the play on the other side of the field.
Walker got his hands on another interception later in the season in a win over Carolina, that one counting.
Part of the reason Quin was expendable this offseason was because of what Walker may be able to give the Lions with more opportunity to play.
That will ultimately depend on the work Walker puts in this offseason.
Walker has remained in the Detroit area this offseason to train and prepare for his second season. He said after the season that the increased role he had on defense the second half of the season helped jump start his development.
"It allowed me room for growth and I definitely grew from it," he said. "I'm very excited for that. I'm looking forward to next year. I'm anxious, it's going to be a great year, I feel like."
The Lions are hoping for the same thing.
"Another guy for us that was a rookie going into his second year, so he's going to have to continually build on that," Patricia said of Walker.
"Definitely a guy we identified coming out in the draft that we thought really had a couple good, different skill sets that we could utilize and we're going to try to expand on that the best we can because there's a couple things that he can do that maybe he didn't get an opportunity to do last year that maybe we saw in practice or in some of those one-on-one drills that maybe is something going forward, that we can utilize him for. We'll see how it all pans out."
