It’s Time for Chop Robinson to Shine

It’s Time for Chop Robinson to Shine

The NFL is, for the time being, a pass-first league, and as such, it is incredibly important that every team has someone who can make the opposing team’s quarterback a bit nervous before each passing play. For all the shortcomings the team has had in their history, defensive end play has rarely been one of them. This is especially true since the beginning of the new millennium, where Miami fans have been treated to some of the best defensive end performances in the league. 

From Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who came into the league in 1997 and became one of the most dominant forces to ever wear the aqua and orange. Taylor retired in 2011 with 139.5 sacks, 48 forced fumbles, and 9 defensive touchdowns. He also added 6 Pro Bowl selections, 3 All-Pros, and a Defensive Player of the Year award. 

Taylor passed the pass rushing torch to Cameron Wake. Wake had to wait until he was 27 to get a real shot in the NFL, but when he finally made it, he made the most of it. During his 10-year career, Wake racked up 100.5 sacks. He was named to the Pro Bowl 5 times and was an All-Pro once. 

Recently, Emmanuel Ogbah has recorded 29.5 sacks in his 5 years with Miami. Bradley Chubb had 22 in his 2 and a half seasons with the team. Jaelen Phillips looked like the next man up with 26 sacks in just over 4 seasons. However, all three of those players are gone, and now Miami must find their pass rush elsewhere. 

Enter Chop Robinson. Robinson was the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He had a slow start to his career but began to get the hang of things as his rookie campaign went on. He finished 2024 with 6 sacks and 56 quarterback pressures per Pro Football Focus. That was good enough for 5th place in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. 

Robinson entered 2025 with pretty large expectations. Expectations that he failed to meet; he only recorded 4 sacks, and his pressures dropped to 19 for the year. It was a disappointing sophomore showing for Robinson to say the least. 

It’s a tough spot to be in mentally for a player who was a former first-round pick; however, the team is now under new leadership, which offers Robinson a fresh start. Earlier this month, Robinson was asked about Head Coach Jeff Hafley’s comments on him becoming a “complete player” and what he thought was meant by that. 

“I mean, just my weaknesses and everything from the past two seasons I had.” He said. “Just build on that. I know what I’m good at and then really just focus on the weaknesses and be a complete player, and that’ll make me who I am.” 

He also was asked about why he thinks he can take a leap in his third season. 

“Really just not thinking, just lining up and playing football and beat the man in front of you,” Robinson said. “That’s the number one job. You just whip the man in front of you, and then that’s it. Make the tackle and everything, so really just line up and just play.” 

Only time will tell if Robinson can learn from his first two seasons and grow into the player Miami hoped he would become when spending a first-round pick on him. With the departure of the likes of Chubb and Phillips, he should have a good opportunity to prove he belongs.

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