Chop Robinson is the latest edge rusher to come off the board on Day 1. The Penn State alum came off the board 21st overall, being ticketed for a Dolphins roster spot.
Robinson seemed set to be the next Nittany Lion pass rusher to be selected in the first round. He was connected to a number of teams throughout the past few months, with more than 10 hosting him on pre-draft visits. Ultimately, he’ll land in Miami.
The edge rusher put himself on the NFL map following a standout 2022 campaign where he finished with 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. His numbers weren’t as strong in 2023 (four sacks, 7.5 TFLs), perhaps ending his hope of being the first player selected at his position. Still, Robinson managed to stick in the first round.
Robinson will be joining a talented pass-rushing corps in Miami. The rookie may be hardpressed to see an every-down role playing alongside Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and offseason acquisition Shaquil Barrett, but he should still get plenty of run as a situational pass rusher.
While the Dolphins boast an impressive collection of edge defenders, injuries presently interfere with their setup. Phillips is rehabbing an Achilles tear sustained in late November, while Chubb may not be ready in time for Week 1 due to sustaining an ACL tear — his second as a pro — in Week 17. Barrett, who suffered a torn Achilles in 2022, stands as veteran insurance. Miami’s situation may lead to Robinson playing more often than he otherwise would.
If everyone ends up healthy at some point early in the season, Miami could have a formidable quartet of edge players. This would be quite the step forward for the team, which needed to sign multiple players off the street to fill out a depth chart ahead of an ugly wild-card loss to the Chiefs.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.