Lions Strange Relationships with Their DT Draft Picks

Jashon Cornell and John Penisini probably ought not purchase any real estate in Michigan once the state is opened up later this year. Why you ask, because they are DTs that were drafted by the Detroit Lions. I know this seems like such a strange topic, but one of my fellow Lions listers brought up a good point yesterday while talking about A’Shawn Robinson leaving the Lions and signing with the Rams. He said he was disappointed we lost him, and not because he was in love with Robinson, but it was another young draft pick that wasn’t brought back. You know what, not only was he right, but it got me thinking as to who would be considered the last Lions DT draft choice that actually resigned with the team while still under their original contract?

My research led me to the NFL.com Draft history, where I started sifting through the Lions previous years draft picks. One thing that quickly jumped out, the Lions have not really drafted many DTs in the last 20 years, apparently choosing to sign them in FA, trade for them or as once the ones they do draft either are cut or leave in FA. They also pick them up frequently as Undrafted Free Agents, but for the purpose of this exercise, lets look at just those the Lions spent picks on:

2020 Lions Draft Picks:

John Penisini – 5th Rd

Jashon Cornell – 7th Rd

Here are the former Lions:

PJ Johnson – 2019 – 7th Rd

A’Shawn Robinson – 2016 – 2nd Rd

Anthony Zettel* - 2016 – 6th Rd

Gabe Wright – 2015 – 4th Rd

Carrun Reid – 2014 – 5th Rd

Nick Fairley – 2011 – 1st Rd (13th Overall)

Ndamukong Suh** - 2010 – 1st Rd (3rd Overall)

Sammie Lee Hill – 2009 – 4th Rd

Andre Fluellen^ - 2008 - 3rd Rd

Shaun Rogers – 2001 – 2nd Rd

While that list has a whole lot of promise as well as heartbreak on it, it has been almost 20 years since the Lions drafted a DT that they actually resigned while under their rookie deal in Shawn Rogers way back in 2001. The rest of the guys either didn’t pan out and were cut (Hill, Reid, Johnson, Wright & Fluellen), traded (Zettel) or were allowed to leave for greener pastures (Suh, Robinson & Fairley). Only Rogers made it to his second contract, spending six years with the Lions before he was traded to the Cleveland Browns for CB Leigh Bodden and a 3rd that ultimately netted the Lions DT Andre Fluellen.

*Played mostly as Strong Side DE in NFL

**Suh was wanted back by Lions, but contract from Miami was too much money

^Fluellen was resigned NINE times by Lions, but cut prior to end of his first contract