FILM | A look at Dolphins pass-rusher Chop Robinson and what he brings to Miami’s defense

With the 21st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

Now that the 2024 NFL Draft is officially in the books, it’s time to take a look at the newest members of your Miami Dolphins and what each player brings to the table in this upcoming season and beyond.

To kick off this series, the first player I will be doing a deep dive on is Miami Dolphins 2024 first-round pick, Penn State pass-rusher Chop Robinson.

Enjoy!

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Biography

Name: Chop Robinson

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 254 lbs.

Arm: 32 1/2”

Hand: 9 1/8”

40 Time: 4.48

10-yard Split: 1.54

* All numbers from NFL.com

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What the Scouts are Saying…

“Edge defender who offers the type of elite athleticism we’ve seen from players like Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett. Robinson might not be as fast as Parsons, but he’s close. He’s ultra-twitchy with the explosiveness to get on top of blockers and overwhelm them in an instant. However, he will need to level up his hand skills and attack angles to reach his potential against NFL tackles. Robinson’s electric athletic traits alone should give him a floor as a good NFL starter. If he crafts a rush approach and learns to string moves/counters together, he could reach his ceiling as a destructive force capable of forcing teams to game plan around him. – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com”

“I love this pick for Miami. He has the best first step in this draft. With a little coaching, he will become a dominant pass rusher. They can also move him around as a joker on their front. Love it.” — Pete Prisco, CBS”

“Robinson is by no means a finished product and needs to learn the craft of working an OT and stringing together moves and counters. However, his lightning quickness off the ball, combined with his motorcycle lean, balance and body control to flatten his rush path and close with an extra gear to the quarterback, makes him the best in this draft class. He can make an immediate impact as an edge pass rusher in his first NFL season.” – Greg Cosell, 33rd Team”

“There’s still room for Robinson to further fill out his pass-rush arsenal and be more consistent with his power, but he’s ultimately a maniacal hot-motor attacker with the bedrock athletic traits to be an instant disruptor, and he can do so from all alignments. The flashes of combo work and combative hand usage invite excitement for his projection.

Robinson profiles best as a stand-up EDGE in odd and hybrid-front schemes, but the most creative defensive coordinators can maximize Robinson’s output. At the end of the day, he’s a game wrecker who can be weaponized to exploit mismatches all across the line. Pressure and pandemonium — that’s what he generates, without fail.” – Ian Cummings, PFN”

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What the Houtz is Saying…

Although the production wasn’t jaw-dropping, it seems clear why the Dolphins drafted Chop Robinson in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Not only does he play a premium position that Miami is looking to retool this offseason, but he brings speed unlike anything we’ve seen before.

The first thing that jumped out to me when putting on the tape was his alien-like first step. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. How he can generate that much velocity in such a small amount of time and space is remarkable. Couple that with his ability to beat tackles with pure speed, quickness, and natural abilities, and I can’t help but wonder where his ceiling is. I mean, if he can develop an array of pass-rush moves and turn speed into power — like former Dolphins head coach Nick Saban likes to say — we may have an absolute star on our hands.

Robinson also adds versatility to Miami’s defensive line, proving he can play all over a defensive front. Most impressive, IMO, was how dominant he looked at times playing over the center.

I would like to see Chop get better in the run game, primarily at setting the EDGE. There were times when he could ultimately take a game over as a pass-rusher (See Michigan) but failed to contain the EDGE or make an impact in the run game, resulting in a disappointing loss. I’m also not sure what the issue was in the Ohio State game, but after a few pressures, he was not seen for the remainder of the game. This, to me, is a bit puzzling. He’s not the best vs. the run, but he’s certainly not — get off the field and don’t come back — bad.

Film

Games Watched: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, West Virginia, Purdue

Conclusion

It’s not hard to envision Chop Robinson seeing the field early and often for the Dolphins during his rookie season, especially as the team waits for superstar pass-rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb to fully heal from season-ending injuries. That said, during his rookie season, expect Robinson to be a true pass-rush specialist, rearing his ears back and attacking the quarterback on critical passing situations. It’s also not hard to see Chop as the perfect “Josh Allen Stopper,” given his 4.58 speed and non-stop motor. And based on how unstoppable the Bills QB has looked vs. Miami since he arrived in Buffalo, stopping Allen twice a season is at the top of Miami’s “things to do list” if they hope to win the AFC East for the first time since 2008.

He may not be the most pro-ready of this year’s pass-rushers, but Chop Robinson has the ability to completely wreck a game. And at just 21 years of age, it’s hard to imagine that the player we see today is anywhere close to the player he can become.

(Spoiler Alert: If you want a sneak peek at what the AFC East is going to look like for the next decade, look no further)

What are your thoughts on the Miami Dolphins drafting Chop Robinson with the 21st selection in the 2024 NFL Draft? What type of role do you think he will have in his rookie season? Do you think this will impact Bradley Chubb’s future in Miami? Let us know in the comments section below!