2016 NFL Draft Profile: A’Shawn Robinson, DT Alabama

Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson is a physical powerhouse who could be a game changer in the NFL, but should the Minnesota VIkings pursue him?

When looking through the players who applied for the 2016 NFL Draft, Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson stands out as a guy who looks the part. He has a strong, sturdy frame that is built for succeeding in the trenches and should be a top selection because of that.

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But Robinson is much more than just a strong frame. He also has a powerful punch, using his arm strength to push blockers backwards or shove them out of the to get to the quarterback. There is also little concern about tackling, as when he gets ahold of a ball carrier, he brings them to the ground with force.

Still, there isn’t a huge ceiling on Robinson, but if he can learn to keep his knees bent and not stand straight up at times, he could be a reliable player for a defense looking to add a tough, physical defensive tackle to the mix. However, teams shouldn’t ask him to change directions or try to play him from sideline to sideline, as that’s not his strength.

Here are Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson’s numbers from the events at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine according to NFL.com:

Height:

6’4″

A’Shawn Robinson compares to:

• CBS Sports: Michael Brockers, Rams
• NFL.com: John Henderson, retired

Fit for the Minnesota Vikings:

The Vikings will be looking for add more depth and competition at defensive tackle because head coach Mike Zimmer loves having a solid rotation of guys to keep fresh bodies in the game. While A’Shawn Robinson might not be as versatile of a player as Zimmer may like, he might be interested due to being great at the things that he does well.

Next: 5 WR options for the Vikings in the 2016 NFL Draft

My Take:

I love Linval Joseph and think that Sharrif Floyd will be solid next to him. Past that, there is Tom Johnson and Kenrick Ellis, who are great backups and rotational guys. Robinson will be gone before the Vikings select at #23 overall, and Minnesota won’t be trading up to get him, so this might be a moot point, but odds are the team will look to improve at other positions first instead of using the big pick on this big fellow.