Alton Robinson, Dallas Cowboys
The fifth spot came down to Robinson or Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae, who the Dallas Cowboys took at 179th overall. While Anae peaked as a senior, producing 13 sacks and earning a Consensus All-American selection, Robinson should have the slight edge.
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Robinson with the 148th pick. At Syracuse, Robinson experienced mixed success. In 2018, as a junior, Robinson finished second in the ACC with ten sacks, tying Florida State’s Brian Burns and only trailing Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell. Robinson also produced 17 tackles for loss, which ranked third in the ACC.
However, Robinson couldn’t match his peak production in 2019. Instead, the defensive end only produced four sacks and nine tackles for loss despite playing the same number of games as in 2018.
Robinson walks into a favorable situation in Seattle. Bruce Irvin is the only defensive end on the roster guaranteed starting time. Most of the team’s other pass rushers, including 2019 first-round pick L.J. Collier and rookie Darrell Taylor, remain completely unproven at the NFL level.
At 6-3, 264-pounds, Robinson possesses all of the desirable traits for an edge player. However, he lacks refinement. His hand technique, decision making, and redirection after the initial rush all need work.
If Robinson adds some muscle and starts learning the intricate details of playing defensive end, he could become a starter for any team in the NFL.
