Dolphins rookie linebacker honored as one of league’s best.
The Miami Dolphins selected pass rushing specialist Chop Robinson out of Penn State University with the 21st pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Some fans wondered if the use of a first round pick on another EDGE defender was the best use of Miami’s draft capital — especially since the Dolphins had already invested heavily in the position by drafting Jaelan Phillips in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, trading a first round pick to the Denver Broncos for Bradley Chubb, and signing free-agent pass rusher Shaq Barrett ahead of the 2024 season.
It turned out that the selection of Chop Robinson was a prescient one. Barrett abruptly retired before the start of the 2024 regular season, Bradley Chubb missed the entire year due to a late season knee injury in 2023, and Phillips suffered a torn ACL during Miami’s week four loss to the Tennessee Titans.
What did Chop Robinson do with the added snaps and responsibility? He turned that adversity into opportunity — amassing six sacks, eight tackles for loss and four passes defensed. As a result of his productive rookie campaign, Robinson was named to the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) 2024 All-Rookie team.
Robinson missed out on being named the Defensive Rookie of the Year, as fellow pass rusher Jared Verse of the Los Angeles Rams took home that honor. The Rams selected Verse just two picks ahead of the Dolphins’ selection of Robinson in last year’s draft.
Robinson will look to build on his stellar rookie season in 2025 — a season in which the Dolphins will look to team him with Jaelan Phillips, and possibly Bradley Chubb if Chubb sticks with the club following his missed 2024 season. If that comes to fruition, Miami’s trio of talented pass rushers will certainly give opposing quarterbacks fits later this year.
