Penn State's Chop Robinson, NFL Draft: Why he's 'the biggest lottery ticket of them all.'

Frank Bodani, York Daily Record

Chop Robinson has never been much for words when asked to describe his defense, his team, his game.

Same thing on Thursday night, when the Miami Dolphins called to inform he would be their 21st pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Robinson is all about smiles and quick action. As in one of the most explosive, pass-rushing first steps possible for one of the fastest defensive ends in recent memory.

"Let's do it!"

That was all Robinson had to say (after a couple of "Yes, sir" responses) from his hometown Gaithersburg, Maryland, draft headquarters before smiling. But that was plenty to break open the celebration among the room of family, friends and supporters around him.

Chop Robinson (44) was much more than statistics during his two years at Penn State. That's why the edge rusher he was a first-round NFL Draft pick of the Miami Dolphins.
Chop Robinson (44) was much more than statistics during his two years at Penn State. That's why the edge rusher he was a first-round NFL Draft pick of the Miami Dolphins.

Check out the video of the moments below:

Robinson's pick was greeted mostly with approval from draft experts and Miami fans on social media. Despite lackluster statistics, his formidable pass-rushing presence was felt routinely at Penn State the past two seasons. And the Dolphins needed to reload their defensive line after losing Christian Wilkins to free agency.

“I feel like it’s a great fit for me,” Robinson told reporters late Thursday night. “I know it’s beautiful weather in Miami. I don’t know much about the city because I’ve never been that way, but I know I’ll have a great time there just enjoying with my teammates and being part of the team.”

NFL Draft experts weigh in on Penn State's Chop Robinson

Defensive end Chop Robinson runs through the three-cone drill during Penn State's Pro Day in Holuba Hall on March 15, 2024, in State College.
Defensive end Chop Robinson runs through the three-cone drill during Penn State's Pro Day in Holuba Hall on March 15, 2024, in State College.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gave the Dolphins an "A" for picking Robinson.

"He has the best first step in this draft. With a little coaching, he will become a dominant pass rusher," Prisco said. "They can also move him around as a joker on their front. Love it."

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Rob Rang (Fox Sports) and Michael Middlehurt-Schwartz (USA Today) gave the Dolphins a B+ and a B, respectively, for the Robinson pick.

"Robinson explodes off the ball like he has springs in his shoes," Rang said. "While the splash is undeniable, his iffy productivity is worrisome. In a position group full of boom-or-bust prospects, Robinson is the biggest lottery ticket of them all."

Middlehurst-Schwartz on Robinson: "Robinson is a feast-or-famine kind of player at this point in his development, but all the athletic traits are there for him to become an extremely difficult matchup for any blocker. Operating in a spot role might be a favorable situation for the early part of his career."

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: How Penn State football's Chop Robinson rates with NFL Draft experts

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