Lions Select Alabama DT A'Shawn Robinson In 2nd Round Of NFL Draft [HIGHLIGHTS]
ALLEN PARK (CBS Detroit/AP) -- With the 15th pick in the second round of the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected University of Alabama defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson on Friday night.
As a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, Robinson was named consensus a All-American in 2015. He racked up 46 total tackles last season to go along with three and a half sacks.
Robinson and the rest of the Crimson Tide defensive line helped lead Alabama to a National Championship last season.
Robinson will compete for time with holdovers Haloti Ngata, Tyrunn Walker, Caraun Reid, Gabe Wright and Stefan Charles.
The Lions had a pair of intriguing options at defensive tackle when it was on the clock, and both played at Alabama. They chose Robinson over his former teammate Jarran Reed.
The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Robinson is regarded as a powerful player and a team leader, who stops the run well and is relatively limited as a pass-rushing lineman.
The Lions went into the three-day draft with 10 selections, including a pair in the fifth round and a trio of slots in the sixth round. The franchise was given a third-round pick, 95th overall, for losing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and a fifth-round selection for losing Nick Fairley in free agency last year.
Detroit signed Ngata last year to attempt to replace Suh, and re-signed the 32-year-old defensive tackle early in free agency. He started last year next to Caraun Reid, a fifth-round in 2015. Robinson should have a shot to start, possibly replacing Reid.
Bob Quinn expected to mesh drafting the best player available with addressing needs. With his first two picks, he clearly took players who can be plugged in to significant roles as rookies for a team coming off its 13th losing season in 15 years.
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