Mel Kiper: Chop Robinson is a 'roll of the dice' for the Miami Dolphins

Every pick in every draft, including the 257 in the 2024 NFL Draft, is technically a gamble. Few are more so to Mel Kiper Jr., though, than Penn State’s Chop Robinson going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 21.

Kiper gave the Dolphins a grade of a B for their class during ‘First Draft’ with Field Yates on Monday. While he liked some of their other picks, Robinson is what leaves it up in the air considering his concerns with him as a prospect. Much of that comes from the fact that, for all the measurables and testing he had, his collegiate production wasn’t what he and others thought it should be.

“Chop Robinson, to me, is a roll of the dice,” said Kiper.

“He had a situation where you’ve got a a great workout but you didn’t have the production. If you can be that good, that athletic, and that physically gifted, why in the world didn’t you just dominate?” Kiper asked. “Why didn’t you have a ton of sacks? Why did you have just two against UMass not much against anybody else? I don’t get it.”

That’s also why, for Kiper, their best pick wasn’t until the fifth round when Miami took Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara. That’s a player that, in his opinion, can be their top selection from this draft in hindsight and could be even better than Robinson.

“I think their best pick was Mohamed Kamara. I think he might have been the best pick in this draft, Field,” Kiper opined. “He may be a better player, ultimately, than Chop Robinson coming off the edge, if you can believe that. A fifth-round pick better than a guy who went in the first round at 21. That was 158 better than the guy who went early. I think he could be.”

Robinson spent three seasons in the Big Ten at Maryland and Penn State. While in college, he finished with 60 tackles, 20 for loss, along with 11.5 sacks. He also had three deflections and three forced fumbles with two recoveries.

However, only so much of that came this past year with the Nittany Lions. As a junior last season, he totaled only 15 tackles, half of those being for loss, and four sacks with two forced fumbles, a recovery, and a deflection. His impact was felt more often than not but, for Kiper, he was looking for more from his box score.

Robinson may very well develop into a quality pro down in South Beach. Kiper just needs to see it first as his grade for Miami’s draft falls completely on whether he does or not.

“Chop Robinson determines everything,” Kiper said. “If Chop can become a sack guy? And I think Mo Kamara is going to be a really good situational pass rusher. Remember, (Bradley) Chubb and (Jaelan) Phillips are coming off significant injuries. Then this Miami Dolphin team in the AFC East with Josh (Allen), (Aaron) Rodgers, and Tua (Tagovailoa), the AFC in general? They did a good job overall if this happens to really come to light, if it comes to fruition where Chop becomes a big-time player.”

“He’s the whole draft for me. Everything revolves around Chop Robinson.” said Kiper. “That’s going to determine A or C. Then Mo Kamara, if Mo Kamara makes up for Chop or he’s as good as what Chop is? Then that’s a home run, grand slam.