The Miami Dolphins ended an impressive yet injury-ridden season with a disappointing loss to the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. The Dolphins’ 11-win season was fueled by an electric offense and elite pass rush. After finishing the regular season top three in team sacks (56) the Phins lost a lot of key contributors to free agency, namely superstar defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (nine sacks in 2023), hybrid edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (six), defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah (five), and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (two).
During the 2024 offseason, the Miami Dolphins took important steps to mitigate the damage of those departures. They added free agent signings like Super Bowl champion edge rusher Shaquill Barrett as well as numerous serviceable defensive tackles like Cowboys Neville Gallimore. In the NFL draft, the Dolphins made it clear that edge rusher was a priority, using their first-round pick on the premium position. By the end of the draft, many would argue that the Dolphins made out with the strongest rookie edge rusher class in the entire NFL.
Miami Dolphins Select Athletic Phenom Edge Rusher Chop Robinson In The First Round Of NFL Draft
The NFL draft was full of talent at the edge rusher position, but few jumped off the page like Penn State’s Chop Robinson. At the NFL Combine, he alerted teams to his pure athletic capabilities. To put his athletic markers into perspective, if he participated at the combine as a running back, his Relative Athletic Score would have marked higher than any of the running backs at the draft (9.90). He posted a ridiculous sub 4.5 40 time that came with an elite 10-yard split, as well as impressive jump measurables like a nearly 35-inch vertical. The Miami Dolphins made it clear they are a fan of Chop’s traits, taking him in the first round of the NFL Draft.
With the No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 @NFLDraft, the @MiamiDolphins select Chop Robinson! @NewEraCap
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/08nO2U36SV— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2024
The 21-year-old edge rusher from Penn State could be considered undersized for the NFL game at 6’3 250, though with his unmatched athleticism, there is plenty of reason to ignore that fact. With 11.5 sacks in his college career, Robinson’s production raises some flags as he couldn’t find the quarterback on paper as much as other top edge rushers, but his impact in the film is not doubtable.
With one of the most athletic profiles many scouts have ever read at the edge position; as well as the film that displays the blistering speed, natural feel for leverage, elite first step, and understanding of pursuit angles, there is no doubt that Chop Robinson can develop into a show-stopping edge rusher.
Though less polished at the time of his drafting, the only fair comparison for Chop Robinson is Dallas Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons. If Robinson can develop into 70% of what Parsons is, then he is more than worth the 21st pick in the NFL Draft.
Miami Dolphins Select Underrated Pass Rusher, Mohammed Kamara
Mohammed Kamara impressed many in his 2023 college football campaign with 13 sacks for the Colorado State Rams. The undersized edge rusher measures at 6’1 245 yet displays many key skills needed for the position that pair well with his great athleticism. His 4.57 40-yard dash as well as an elite 10-yard split jumped out at the NFL combine, despite this, he surprisingly fell to the 5th round of the NFL draft.
LET’S GO MO! 👊
With the 158th pick, we have selected LB Mohamed Kamara from @CSUFootball! pic.twitter.com/JA2vu9dzSL
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 27, 2024
With over 30 sacks in his college career, Kamara’s production is more than what a team needs to see in college. Kamara displays a tenacity and need to pursue the quarterback that fits him perfectly into the edge rusher mentality. He plays with an elite drive and aggression as well as a great punch at the point of contact, he converts this into impressive bend and ability to squeeze into tight spaces. The ability to defeat double teams shows up all through his tape, a trait that is very key to see early in an edge rusher.
The only reason Mohammed Kamara fell in the NFL draft is because of his measurables. Although that is something you can not teach, you can teach him to work around those constraints, particularly with his great athleticism. If the Miami Dolphins can harness their physical abilities, Chop Robinson and Mohammed Kamara have the potential to terrify opposing quarterbacks.
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