Can Penn State EDGE Demeioun “Chop” Robinson be one of the first prospects off the board at his position in the 2024 NFL Draft? The Nittany Lions have a consistent track record of production at the EDGE position in the NFL, but Robinson is one of their most exciting products yet.
Chop Robinson Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’2 7/8″
- Weight: 254 pounds
- Length: 32 1/2″
- Wingspan: 76 1/4″
- Hand: 9 1/8″
- Position: Edge Rusher
- School: Penn State
- Current Year: Junior
Since 2019, the Penn State Nittany Lions have seen seven edge rushers command NFL Draft selections. Of course, the group is headlined by Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, but it goes far beyond that.
Odafe Oweh also went in Round 1 to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2021 NFL Draft. Beyond the first-rounders, Shareef Miller, Yetur Gross-Matos, Shaka Toney, Jesse Luketa, and Arnold Ebiketie also commanded capital.
Penn State is one of the more reliable NFL talent-producing programs overall — but especially on the defensive line, they make their presence known. The program is a conveyor belt, and Robinson and Adisa Isaac are next up. Isaac is a good prospect, but Robinson has true Round 1 potential.
After playing his true freshman season at Maryland in 2021, Robinson transferred to Penn State in 2022, where he emerged as an undeterred disruptive force, amassing 5.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble.
Penn State’s Chop Robinson is a BEAST.
An eye-popping 4.49 40-yard dash. 🤯#WeAre | #NFLCombine
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 29, 2024
In 2023, Robinson’s raw production wasn’t eye-popping — he logged just four sacks and 7.5 TFLs in 10 games. But underneath the surface, Robinson has one of the highest career pass-rush win rates in the class, and his tools grant him one of the group’s highest ceilings.
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Robinson is a documented Feldman Freak, and he verified that athleticism at the NFL Combine. Robinson ran a blazing 4.48-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis with a 1.53-second 10-yard split in the 99th percentile among defensive ends.
Past his speed, Robinson also logged a 10’8″ broad jump near the 99th percentile, as well as a 4.25-second short-shuttle time and a 7.01-second three-cone at his pro day. All of the athletic metrics speak of unmatched upside with Robinson — but what does the tape say?
Chop Robinson Scouting Report
Strengths
- Earns his nickname “Chop” with unhinged, maniacal energy as a three-down defender.
- Extremely dense, compact rusher with eye-catching point-of-contact strength and pop.
- Hyper-elite explosive threat with a volcanic first step that can immediately stress angles.
- Able to teleport upfield as a rusher with his stride freedom and long-track explosiveness.
- Has the ankle flexion to reduce his surface area while multitasking around the corner.
- Can suddenly throttle up around the apex and brutally capitalize on angle advantages.
- Searing lateral quickness and twitch allow him to instantly offset blockers at the line.
- Able to use crisp double-swipe, rip combos while working across face against blockers.
- Maximizes his power element with violent extensions, knee drive, and momentum.
- Can widen blockers with his hyperactive twitch, then plow through with bull rushes.
- Elite pursuit speed and urgency make him a constant disruptive threat on the chase.
- Has the strength and natural leverage to set the edge and limit space outside for RBs.
- Can function as an alignment-versatile game wrecker, from shaded 1-tech to 9-tech.
- Ability to generate immediate pressure; can disrupt even quick-game rhythm throws.
Weaknesses
- Lacks elite proportional length, which does detract from his maximum power capacity.
- Non-elite length limits his margin for error against longer, larger offensive tackles.
- While ankle flexion is elite, he exhibits very slight hip and torso stiffness at times.
- At times, can be quicker to load his hands into contact and prepare rush moves.
- Initial hand placement on the attack can be more consistent as misses stall rushes.
- Overarching consistency as a pass-rush technician and combatant can still improve.
- Still working on fleshing out his power arsenal and building off of power rushes.
- Occasionally attempts to bend the corner too late in reps, allowing tackles to recover.
- Sometimes loses his balance when threatening around the apex.
- At times, can be sturdier and more disciplined as a run defender keeping gap leverage.
- Can improve at converting on sack opportunities, and length limits pursuit range.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Robinson grades out as a top-20 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. Alabama’s Dallas Turner has him beat as the top EDGE prospect in the class. Still, Robinson is in the tier with Florida State’s Jared Verse and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and is a viable mid-to-late Round 1 contender.
Robinson’s physical build is unique. He lacks the elite length many crave in top-tier EDGE defenders. However, Robinson nevertheless wins with all kinds of different qualities, and he compensates in the power realm with his momentum generation, strength, leverage, and relentless drive.
Robinson’s hyper-elite explosive athleticism and play speed can send tackles careening off the snap, and his high-end ankle flexion only makes his speed more potent. Robinson’s burst and bend are overwhelming qualities, and he can capitalize on those traits with active hands.
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There’s still room for Robinson to further fill out his pass-rush arsenal and be more consistent with his power, but he’s ultimately a maniacal hot-motor attacker with the bedrock athletic traits to be an instant disruptor, and he can do so from all alignments. The flashes of combo work and combative hand usage invite excitement for his projection.
Robinson profiles best as a stand-up EDGE in odd and hybrid-front schemes, but the most creative defensive coordinators can maximize Robinson’s output. At the end of the day, he’s a game wrecker who can be weaponized to exploit mismatches all across the line. Pressure and pandemonium — that’s what he generates, without fail.
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