Mel Kiper Jr. expects Chop Robinson to hold up in the NFL

One of the interesting defensive prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft is Penn State Nittany Lions edge rusher Chop Robinson. He’s someone who brings a lot of explosiveness to his position and is a player that NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. expects to hold up in the NFL.

During an episode of First Draft, Kiper broke down what makes him so confident in Robinson as an NFL prospect.

“Chop, I wish his arms were a little longer,” Kiper said. “But, overall, to me it gets back to Odafe Oweh. No sacks. Late first round. Chop Robinson, I think is a guy with the way he handles the run, sealing things outside against the run.”

Chop Robinson was a four-star recruit out of high school in the Class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, who started his career at Maryland before transferring to Penn State. During those two seasons with the Nittany Lions, Robinson had 60 total tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, and 11.5 sacks.

“And, also, I’m gonna get to it when I go a little off script here. That’s the one thing we overlook and underestimate. You’ve got to be able to play the run in the NFL,” Kiper said. “You’ve got to be able to hold up and I think he will. Chop will and he will hustle. Had the injury. His numbers, a game and a half he was out, he would have probably had a couple more but that’s the nature of the Penn State defense.”

At the NFL Combine, Chop Robinson put on a show, with a 1.54 in the 10-yard split and a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash. However, he didn’t bench.

Because of all of this, Kiper does believe that Chop Robinson is going to be a first-round pick. The question is where in the first round he is selected.

“Chop Robinson, I tried to find a spot in mock 3.0 middle of the first for him. I just couldn’t find it because there’s needs and others were solidified in free agency. Every team needs multiple pass rushers. So, maybe a team that we don’t think will take him will, but you get him in the 20s is where you feel from a mock draft standpoint more comfortable, but I’m with you. Maybe somebody takes him a little earlier than that. Maybe somewhere in that 15 to 20 range.”

This time of year, there are plenty of mock drafts. In NFL.com’s latest, Robinson is mocked at 29th, to the Lions. For his part, Kiper has Robinson at 25th on his big board.