When the Detroit Lions went on the clock in Round 2 of the 2016 NFL draft, most pundits were surprised that Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson was still available. Detroit general manager Bob Quinn wasted no time, scooping up Robinson to bolster the interior of his defensive line.
As a prospect, Robinson was considered “safe” because he was a stout run defender in the SEC, but he fell into the second round, in part, because his impact on the passing game had been limited. Still, getting a reliable starter at that point of the draft felt like a steal for the Lions, even if he was limited to being a very good run defender.