Brandon Knapp explains why the Detroit Lions should take Chop Robinson in the 2024 NFL Draft.

I told you this series wouldn’t just be filled with Michigan Wolverine players. When it comes to the 2024 NFL Draft, the one defensive end that stood out to me is Demeioun “Chop“ Robinson from Penn State. The Detroit Lions saw their defensive line improve in 2023, but there is still a need at the opposite Edge position from Aidan Hutchinson—someone else who can generate pressure and make no side of the line safe for a quarterback.

Robinson is a real option for the Lions at pick 29 and just seems like one of the best players Detroit could take with it. The defense still needs some help in the secondary, which can be addressed in the second round, but one way to help the secondary out is by having a defensive line that generates pressure. If the opposing quarterback doesn’t have time to get his passes off, then even the worst secondary can look good.

Let me describe why and get you on the same page as me on the Detroit Lions drafting Robinson in the NFL Draft.

Previously:

• Why the Lions should draft Zak Zinter
• Why the Lions should draft Mike Sainristil

Collegiate history

Starting his college football career at Maryland in 2021, Robinson was a linebacker before he was converted to defensive end when he transferred to Penn State in 2022. Robinson only played in eight games in 2021, getting 19 tackles, two and a half tackles for loss, and two sacks. His move to Penn State saw his production and disruption on the field increase. In his two years at Penn State, Robinson had 41 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

The move from linebacker to edge did help Robinson overall, as his PFF grades improved in every category except coverage, plus a down year in tackling in 2022. Playing edge fit Robinson better as well as he was an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team in 2022, before making the first-team All-Big Ten team in 2023. While the stats aren’t eye-popping, there is more than meets the eye than just the stat sheet when referring to Robinson.

Robinson’s strengths

One of the things that separates Robinson from the other edge defenders is his quickness and ability to get off the line fast. Speed is important when playing on the edge. If you can catch an offensive tackle off guard, he won’t be able to hold you back. According to PFF, Robinson had a 90.9 defensive grade, tied for fifth out of all edge rushers who played at least 20% of snaps in 2023. His pass rush grade of 92.3 had him ranked fourth in edge rushers.

Here you can see just how quickly Robinson can get off the line and to the quarterback to force a fumble. In his two years at Penn State, Robinson had 52 hurries, which can be just as helpful as getting a sack on the quarterback. You can pressure the quarterback and force him to make a poor throw and get that turned into an interception, or you could hit him as he tries to quickly throw it and cause a fumble.

Early on, people judged Aidan Hutchinson for low sack numbers despite high pressure numbers. Now people are doing the same with Robinson. Imagine having two edge rushers who can quickly get to the quarterback instead of one.

When it comes to playing as an edge rusher in Detroit, you better be flexible with the ability to play inside if needed. Robinson can do just that for you. While he works best as an edge rusher, he can still be a problem if he is attacking the interior, and that speed can be an issue for bigger guards and centers. Hutchinson saw some interior looks in 2023 that helped the defensive line, and Lions coach Dan Campbell would love nothing more than another player who could do that with his speed and agility.

While speed is the majority of Robinsons' game, his ability to bend and get around tackles in different ways is another positive that the Lions could use. James Houston is the only Lion who has some nasty bend to his game, and with him missing a majority of the 2023 season, the Lions missed his ability to the quarterback creatively. Robinson can do that with the kind of elite athleticism you find in the top pass rushers in the NFL.

How does Robinson fit?

Robinson is an edge rusher that the Lions need. The team has some versatile defensive linemen who can play inside and out, but only one has the speed and ability to generate pressure. The solution teams have had for Detroit's defensive line is to double-team Hutchinson and trust everyone else to win their one-on-ones—and they often do. Detroit had to blitz heavily to generate pressure on quarterbacks, and if they add someone like Robinson, they could tone down on the blitzes, which would help their coverage out and leave Hutchinson in a one-on-one instead of a double team.

While it’s helpful that Robinson can play the interior like the others, as that is something that the coaching staff wants on their team, he easily becomes their top-edge rusher outside of Hutchinson. Marcus Davenport and Houston are strong players, but both have serious questions about them. Davenport has a injury history and just one season true pass rushing success. Houston had a phenomenal rookie year, but struggled when asked to be anything more than a situational pass rusher. Robinson would be a safe team addition and someone who contributes early and often.

Robinson would have to fight his way into the starting lineup like most rookies have to, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Robinson was a starter come Week 1. He is too unique and helpful with his speed and quickness to not be a big presence on the field. Detroit is just one piece away from having one of the top defensive lines in the NFL, and Robinson can be that missing piece.