November 8, 2024

The Detroit Lions have been open about their interest in Missouri defensive tackle Darius Robinson, meeting with the Detroit native twice before to the NFL Draft.

One insider believes Robinson will be Detroit’s first-round draft pick. In a dissection of the pre-draft buzz around the Lions, ESPN analyst Matt Miller reported a scout close to the organization as saying Detroit may already have decided on their first selection.

“Here’s your landing spot for Darius Robinson,” said the scout, who Miller noted had “crossed paths with the Lions’ decision-makers multiple times this year and has shared conversations with them about team needs.”

Darius Robinson an ‘Ideal Fit’ for Detroit’s Defensive Scheme

Miller suggested that Robinson would be an ideal fit for the Lions, who are looking for a consistent pass rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson.

“Robinson, the versatile defensive lineman from Missouri, is an ideal scheme fit at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds,” Miller said in a statement. “He played both defensive end and defensive tackle in 2023 while posting 8.5 sacks, and while the Lions have standout players in Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill on the defensive line, Robinson’s power and burst on the edge would be a welcome addition.”

The Lions struggled at times to find a consistent pass rush outside of Hutchinson, who made 11.5 sacks in his second season with the team.

Other commentators have tied the Lions to Robinson. In a mock draft published on March 22, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter predicted that the Lions will select him with the 29th overall pick. Like Miller, Reuter noted that the Missouri defensive lineman’s versatility might be beneficial to the Lions.
“Robinson displayed his versatility in Missouri’s scheme last year, often standing up at 285 pounds,” the report stated. “The Lions would likely use him in a similar fashion across from Aidan Hutchinson.”

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