Day 1,506, Quasi-Quarantine: Chopping It Up On The First Day Of The Draft

By the time Miami picked at the 21st slot in the first round, just four defensive players had been chosen. The 'Fins had their pick of back-seven defenders, but opted for Penn State edge Chop Robinson with their choice.

Draft analyst Dane Brugler had tabbed Robinson as his No. 4 edge rusher in the draft and the No. 26 overall player in the draft, with a first- or second-round grade. So this was not necessarily a big reach for the Dolphins, but his selection must be considered in the context of who else was (surprisingly) available on the board.

The pluses: At 6-2, 254 pounds, Robinson ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, so it's safe to say that elite athletic ability and agility are among his strengths. Scouts lauded the Maryland transfer's ability to flatten his pass rush -- maintaining his balance while simultaneously turning the corner and ducking under a blocker -- and his potential when dropping into coverage. 

Active hands, good reach, and tremendous change of direction were also noted, allowing Robinson to check off just about everything in the "physical gifts" category.

The minuses: The overwhelming negative is a simple and undeniable lack of production: Robinson posted just 11.5 career sacks, including four sacks (and 7.5 tackles for losses) in his final college season. 

The inability to finish is mostly attributed to what scouts consider to be average body strength and a lack of refined counter moves. He also struggled in the run game, which may be why he played 30.3 snaps as part of a rotation even in his final campaign.

The bottom line: The reality is that Miami had a golden opportunity due to the unexpected run of offensive players -- the first 14 players off the board played on that side of the ball -- so taking a one-year starter without a documented history of impact plays feels problematic.

Listen, the need is certainly there: Both Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are coming off season-ending injuries, and the 'Fins lost Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah in free agency. However, most observers agreed that more polished players capable of making an immediate impact were available, meaning at least a trade down should have been considered.

Robinson can certainly make the discussion moot by emerging as at least a situational pass rusher as a rookie. But making a projection while simultaneously prioritizing need over talent is a road to head-shaking that the Dolphins have traveled far too often over the years.

Here's hoping that's not the case this time around. Go get 'em, Chop.