Dolphins Predicted to Add ‘Freakish’ Edge Rusher to Rebuild Defense
The Miami Dolphins lost several key members of their defense this summer, but one analyst feels they may make a significant addition nflby selecting one of the most athletic prospects in the NFL Draft.
According to Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press, the Dolphins will take Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson with the No. 21 overall choice, bolstering a defense that was battered by injuries last season and departures this offseason.
According to Maaddi, Robinson would provide an immediate boost to a Dolphins defense that is attempting to rebuild swiftly after losing Christian Wilkins and Xavien Howard.
“Robinson is a freakish athlete and three-down player who upgrades a defense that lost top edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips to serious injuries last season,” Maaddi said in a statement.
Dolphins Could Target Prospect With ‘Elite Athleticism’
Robinson is regarded as one of the draft’s best edge rushers, with NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein comparing him to Dallas Cowboys great Micah Parsons.
“Edge defender who offers the type of elite athleticism we’ve seen from players like Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett,” Zierlein said in a statement. “Robinson may not be as fast as Parsons, but he’s close. He’s extremely twitchy, with the explosive ability to go on top of blockers and overwhelm them in a second.
Zierlein recognized that Robinson needed to work on some elements of his pass rush, but he has the potential to make an early impact.
“Robinson’s electric athletic traits alone should give him a floor as a good NFL starter,” Zierlein said in a statement. “If he crafts a rush approach and learns to string moves/counters together, he could reach his ceiling as a destructive force capable of forcing teams to game plan around him.”
Dolphins Could Address Another Pressing Need
Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel suggested that the Dolphins could use their first draft pick to solve another defensive need. Perkins highlighted that Wilkins’ departure has left a significant void in the interior of the defensive line, which the Dolphins might fill with their first-round draft pick.
“The Dolphins won’t get anyone of Wilkins’ caliber in the draft, but they could get a starter who excels at either stopping the run or rushing the passer,” Perkins said, implying that Texas tackle Byron Murphy II could be a candidate.
explosive, and when those traits combined with his exceptional speed, the outcome is a difficult-to-stop three-down player,” Perkins said. “He plays with high vigor against both the pass and the run. Despite being a one-year starter, he was named Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and an All-America selection.
Trevor Sikkema Murphy was also predicted to be drafted by the Dolphins by Pro Football Focus, who compared his strength and athleticism to Wilkins’.
“Miami lost Christian Wilkins in free agency and could need to replace that juice on the interior,” Sikkema said in a statement. “Murphy is an incredibly talented and athletic three-technique defensive tackle who can quickly get off the ball as a pass rusher and hold the line well for a guy of his size.”
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