Detroit Lions: The 2015 draft class was a failure
By Max Gerber
Fullback Michael Burton was the Lions’ fifth-round pick in 2015. While most teams don’t use traditional fullbacks like Burton, he managed to make the most out of his rookie year, appearing in all 16 games and catching a touchdown pass.
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His second season as a Detroit Lion was not as productive. Burton barely saw the field during the 2016 season and ended up as a gameday inactive on the last game of the season. He was released by the team during the 2017 offseason. Burton is now the starting fullback for the Chicago Bears.
The final pick for the Detroit Lions in the 2015 NFL Draft was offensive tackle Corey Robinson. The seventh-round pick out of South Carolina ended up being a serviceable backup in his time in Detroit. Injuries pressed Robinson into the starting lineup several times, but he never was able to cut it as a full-time starter.
In three seasons as a Lion, Robinson allowed 4.0 sacks and committed four penalties while playing both tackle and guard. During final roster cuts at the end of the 2018 offseason, Robinson was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional seventh-round pick. After being released by the Panthers, he is now a backup offensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The 2015 draft class was not a successful one for the Detroit Lions. Out of their seven selections, only one is left on the team. Sure, that one player is now a Pro Bowl alternate and a key piece of the defense, but the other six picks from that year weren’t able to make an impact or even remain on the roster for more than four seasons.
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This was the last draft class of former general manager Martin Mayhew, and it is easy to see how much better the Detroit Lions have drafted since bringing in general manager Bob Quinn.