The Seattle Seahawks decided to double up on defensive ends in the 2020 NFL draft, using a second rounder on Darrell Taylor and taking a shot at Syracuse’s Alton Robinson in the fifth.
However, Robinson was a perfectly logical gamble for John Schneider and the staff to take, as he posted gaudy sack totals during his two years at Syracuse – and his top of the line athleticism and explosiveness off the edge should translate at the next level.
“I’m really fired up that we were able to get Alton [Robinson] where we got him,” coach Pete Carroll said after the draft. “He’s got the ability and the production to do stuff like guys that were picked quite a bit higher. We were fortunate to get that done.”
However, with Taylor and Robinson joining newcomers Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa, the team seems to already have a lot of bodies along the defensive edge – and that’s not even including a potential big addition like Jadeveon Clowney or Everson Griffen.
So where does that leave Robinson in year one? Well, fifth round defensive ends aren’t usually expected to have big roles on the defense right away, and Robinson’s lack of length (his 32 3/8 inch arms are the shortest the Seahawks have ever drafted at DE) will likely limit him to being a situational pass rusher right off the bat.
Eventually, Robinson has the tools to settle into a backup DE role, much like the role Mayowa is expected to fill this year, and the role Branden Jackson has had for the past few seasons.
Robinson may never be a star, but a quality pass rusher who generates pressure in a limited role is a perfectly fine result for a fifth round pick, and one that seems easily attainable for Robinson.
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