Written by Kevin Patra at NFL.com
The Los Angeles Rams finally gave up on former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson.
The Rams traded the offensive tackle to the Detroit Lions for a 2018 sixth-round pick, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
ESPN first reported the trade. The teams later confirmed the news.
The Lions have a need at offensive tackle after starter Taylor Decker underwent shoulder surgery. Decker is expected to be out four to six months, Rapoport previously reported, which could wipe out most of the 2017 season.
Robinson exits L.A. as a big-time bust. He has been one of the worst left tackles in the NFL since entering the league in 2014. His struggles last season were a major reason the Rams offense was one of the least productive in the league, and why Jared Goff and Todd Gurley were continuously engulfed. Robinson was buried on the depth chartby new coach Sean McVay, behind Jamon Brown, during offseason workouts.
The Lions hope that a change of scenery and scheme will unlock the natural talent Robinson displayed coming out of Auburn that made scouts drool. The price is right for Lions general manager Bob Quinn, who gives up a measly late-round pick for a chance to get a player that could be a stopgap at left tackle. If Robinson continues to struggle, he could still be cut before the regular season begins.
Detroit didn’t stop at a trade in an attempt to add to their Decker Replacement Plan. The team also announced it signed former Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio. He, like Robinson, was a high-round pick (2nd) who hasn’t lived up to his draft status.
Both Robinson and Kouandjio will battle Joe Dahl for the starting gig to replace Decker for at least the start of the season. However, Kouandjio isn’t ready to practice just yet, per Lions coach Jim Caldwell, as he continues to deal with a hip injury.
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