The Detroit Lions lost several of their defensive tackles this offseason in Damon Harrison, A’Shawn Robinson, and Mike Daniels. In response, the Lions signed both Danny Shelton and Nick Williams in free agency.
But entering into the NFL draft, the position of defensive tackle figured to be addressed at some point. Yet, through the Lions’ first seven picks, nothing.
That changed with the 18th pick in the sixth round, 197th overall. Detroit made Utah defensive tackle John Penisini the newest member of the Lions (at least till their seventh-round pick).
Undersized at 6-foot-1, 318-pounds, Penisini is a pure run-stuffer who was the anchor for a Utes defense that allowed just 81.