Missouri DL Darius Robinson taken by Cardinals in NFL draft

Darius Robinson got the phone call of a lifetime.

The former Missouri star went in the first round of this year’s NFL draft as a prime-time pick for his upcoming pro careers. Robinson, a versatile defensive lineman, went to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 27 pick.

Robinson’s selection is particularly rewarding, given that he was one of 13 prospects invited to the green room at the event in Detroit, his hometown. He arrived in a flashy outfit, complete with a blue, teal and purple-toned jacket, black bow tie, glossy shoes and bejeweled purple sunglasses.

He’s the first Mizzou player to be selected in the first round since defensive end Charles Harris went to the Miami Dolphins with the 22nd overall pick of the 2017 draft.

Still left on the board at press time was Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton, who was looking to give Illinois back-to-back first-round picks after defensive back Devon Witherspoon went to the Seattle Seahawks with the fifth pick of last year’s draft.

Considered a possible but rather unlikely first-rounder was MU cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who remains on the draft board after Thursday’s first round. He remains one of the best prospects available ahead of the start of the second round on Friday.

Robinson played at MU for five years. In terms of projecting his fit in the NFL, he’s been something of a challenging prospect to evaluate. He spent the majority of his college career playing defensive tackle but spaced out to the edge for his final season.

There was benefit to the move. Even while battling through a nagging calf injury, Robinson managed 14 tackles for a loss and 8 1/2 sacks. Seven of those sacks came during an especially productive stretch of seven consecutive games with a sack.

But his experience in college and frame — 6-foot-5, 285 pounds — complicates where he’ll slot in on an NFL defensive line. Robinson isn’t quite as lean or quick as most modern edge rushers, nor does he have the overwhelming strength of most NFL interior defensive linemen. What he does offer, though, is versatility in where he could line up, and the flexibility to learn new techniques.

Jer’Zhan Newton, who goes by Johnny, entered the draft as one of the top-ranked interior defensive linemen. He spent four seasons at Illinois, finding remarkable success during his final season.

Eleven starts for the Illini led to 7 1/2 sacks and a handful of postseason accolades: first-team All-American, Big Ten defensive player of the year, first-team All-Big Ten.

His power and athleticism stood out to draft analysts, who praised his twitch and aggression. Newton also showed a good ability to read what was going on in the backfield while shedding blockers. There did seem to be some concern with his size — at 6-1, 304 pounds, he’s more compact than most NFL D-linemen — but his skill set seemed likely to assuage most of those worries.

Rakestraw ultimately faced an uphill battle to a spot in the first-round. The sports hernia injury that limited him during the 2023 college season and required postseason surgery also hampered his participation in the offseason workouts that are hallmarks of the pre-draft process.

While he wasn’t the most productive Mizzou corner during his four seasons with the Tigers — Kris Abrams-Draine, who may be a Friday selection, holds that distinction — Rakestraw did emerge as a solid tackler who holds up well in man coverage. His ability to stick with receivers bodes well for an NFL career, even with concerns over his health and speed.

Rakestraw received some first-round buzz but consistently seemed more likely to be an early second-round selection. The Houston Texans, who have the 42nd overall pick, remain a team to watch — he took an official visit there shortly after Mizzou’s March pro day.

Abrams-Draine remains the primary MU player to watch on Day 2 of the draft. Offensive lineman Javon Foster could also plausibly go in the second or third round if a team is strongly attracted to his potential.

The second round of the draft begins at 6 p.m. Friday.