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Cardinals former 1st-round pick Darius Robinson ready for 'crazy' sophomore year

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 8:41 PM ET

GLENDALE – The forgotten stepchild of the Arizona Cardinals defense next year is former first-round pick defensive lineman Darius Robinson. The 23-year-old was selected 27th overall in last year’s NFL draft and was overshadowed by the marquee name of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who was selected 4th overall.

Robinson had an opportunity to illustrate his dominance on the field in his rookie season, but injuries held him back. The former Missouri Tiger only appeared in six games and only recorded one sack. A massive disappointment for the former first-round pick, but he talked with Arizona Sports’ Tyler Drake and other media members on Tuesday about how he’s approaching his sophomore season with the franchise.

Robinson on next season with Cardinals:

“I just know its going to be something crazy. Last year was the hardest year of my life, but then it was the best year of my life in the same year. I definitely felt the lowest, but I also felt the highest, and I’m ready to get back to that highest point.”

Robinson continued how he endured the hardships of last year and just kept working to improve. He called being in the NFL a “blessing” and talked about the journey to this point has prepared him battle back from this adversity. The Michigan native being able to pursue his dream of playing professional football is what keeps him motivated to have a much more impactful 2025.

The Cardinals added much more bodies to the defensive line with edge Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Calais Campbell signing with the team this offseason. Arizona also drafted another defensive tackle in Walter Nolen to join the DL room. The competition to compete for the job will be high, and it’ll be sink or swim for Robinson to prove he belongs in Arizona with the talent beside him.

However, the experience of his teammates will help his development to bounce back and become the player at Missouri. Robinson is ready to “keep fighting” for his spot on the roster and is ready to work this offseason.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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