Detroit Lions: Ranking the Draft Class By Rookie-Year Impact

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Taylor Decker (Ohio State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the number sixteen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Taylor Decker (Ohio State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the number sixteen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. A’Shawn Robinson

There are some players already on the roster that A’Shawn Robinson will have to compete with for playing time but his projection for rookie-year impact is probably as safe as any other member of the draft class. There is no expectation that Robinson should or will come in and stake claim to a starting spot at defensive tackle. Instead, he’ll be expected to come in and provide depth and a contribute as a cog in the Lions’ defensive tackle rotation.

What remains to be seen is exactly how much playing time he earns as a rookie. That could be a handful of snaps per game or it could be fifty snaps per game.

Best-case scenario: Is a solid rotational guy as a rookie and inspires confidence to ease fears about defensive tackle contracts that expire at the end of 2016.

Worst-case scenario: Plays some as a rookie but is generally lost in the shuffle of the rotation without standing out in a meaningful way.

Next: Number 2