Missouri Tigers’ Darius Robinson picked 27th overall in Round 1 of 2024 NFL Draft

Mizzou’s Cotton Bowl-winning 2023 season added another accolade on Thursday night in Detroit: a first-round NFL Draft pick.

With the 27th overall selection of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night chose versatile Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson.

Robinson, who grew up about 15 miles from the draft’s host city in Southfield, Michigan, was one of the 13 college football invitees in attendance to hear their names called in Round 1.

In his final year with the Tigers — a first-team All-SEC season — Robinson piled up 43 tackles (14 for loss), 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 12 games.

Robinson earned a 6.37 prospect grade at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, placing him in the “will eventually be a plus starter” category, per NFL’s grading system.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein had this to say in his pre-draft analysis:

“Right out of the gate, Robinson’s physical attributes should give him a potential advantage in head-to-head matchups. He has jarring power in his hands and a twitchy upper body to get rid of blockers quickly. His arm length is a weapon at the point of attack.”

With his selection Thursday, Robinson becomes the highest-drafted Tiger since Nick Bolton (2021, 58th overall by the Chiefs) and their first first-round selection since Charles Harris (2017, 22nd overall by Miami).