Is Chop Robinson Lions' EDGE of Future?
Going into free agency and the NFL Draft, the Lions have a couple of major needs to address on the defensive side of the ball.
Cornerback is believed to be priority No. 1 for Detroit general manager Brad Holmes. But, after that, there appears to be no bigger need for the organization than at EDGE.
Yes, the Lions do already possess a bonafide stud at the position in 2022 No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson. Yet, they're in dire need of an impact defender that can line up at the EDGE spot opposite the 2023 Pro Bowler.
If Holmes & Co. choose to address the need with their first-round pick this April (No. 29 overall), Penn State's Chop Robinson would be a great target.
Equipped with a motor that seemingly never turns off, the 6-foot-3, 254-pound Robinson seems like the very definition of a Dan Campbell-type player.
The Nittany Lions product is gifted with an explosive first step that should make him a dynamite pass-rusher at the next level.
Robinson, who played three seasons in the Big Ten, spent a lone campaign at Maryland before transferring to Penn State for his final two collegiate seasons. In three total years as a college student-athlete, he racked up 60 total tackles, including 20 for loss, 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Additionally, in each of his two campaigns with the Nittany Lions, he received Pro Football Focus overall marks north of 90.0 (90.6 in 2022 and 90.8 in 2023). He also recorded an impressive 52 quarterback hurries in 22 career games at Penn State.
Plus, in his last season in Happy Valley, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, and amassed a 92.3 PFF pass-rush grade.
Robinson's draft stock could be on the rise, too, after a strong showing at the NFL combine.
He showcased his explosiveness in a big fashion, finishing first among all EDGE defenders in both the 10-yard split (1.54 seconds) and broad jump (10’8”). He also finished second among all EDGEs in both the 40-yard dash (4.48) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.25).
Meanwhile, he produced a Relative Athletic Score of 9.68, on a scale of zero to 10. It was the second-best RAS of all the EDGEs that tested at this year's combine.
For as solid as Robinson already is as a pass-rusher, he isn't a finished product quite yet. He still needs to improve his pass-rush repertoire, and refine his skills as a run defender. Most notably, he needs to get better at diagnosing run plays and shedding blocks.
Undeniably, though, he possesses the athleticism and necessary physical intangibles to grow into a Pro Bowl-caliber defender at the next level. And, he'd provide the Lions with a reliable EDGE-rushing counterpart for Hutchinson.
If Robinson is still available when the No. 29 pick rolls around, I believe that Holmes will have a hard time not selecting the Big Ten product.
