Guess what? LA Rams effectively swap a DL with Lions too

Signed, sealed, but still awaiting delivery

The Rams signed Robinson to a two-year deal last offseason. The 6-foot-four, 330-pound behemoth of a defensive end had previously spent four seasons with the Lions. Drafted out of Alabama in the second round in 2016, Robinson had been a steady on-field presence and solid run-stuffer for the Lions during his time there.

The Rams expected to lose both Michael Brockers and Morgan Fox to free agency a year ago. Brockers made it all the way to signing with a new team, the Baltimore Ravens. Fox was never shown much interest. But the Ravens changed their minds on Brockers, and then the Rams re-signed Morgan Fox, making it necessary to cut DT Tanzel Smart. And the Rams still had A’Shawn Robinson.

Although he was penciled in to be Ram’s primary nose tackle, however, Robinson only played in eight games last season after being diagnosed with a cardiovascular medical condition before the season began.   While he did return by mid-season, he never quite showed up as a major contributor for the team. During his Rams tenure, Robinson accounted for just 12 tackles and just one tackle for a loss.

While his first year with the Rams might be dubbed as rather unremarkable, what is intriguing about Robinson is that he has the size and the height to play defensive end in the Rams’ scheme. With the ability to play nose tackle, three-technique, or defensive end, Robinson affords new Rams’ defensive coordinator Raheem Morris a bit of Swiss-Army knife versatility, able to play anywhere up and down the line. If you witnessed what he can do when healthy? Blockers and rushers alike cannot budge him.

Conversely, Michael Brockers goes to Detroit after spending nine seasons with the Rams, the team that selected him in the first round out of LSU with the 14th overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. In 136 starts, Brockers tallied 395 total tackles, 62 quarterback hits, and 28 sacks.