The Miami Dolphins lost some key members of their defense this offseason, but one expert thinks they could make a big addition by selecting one of the most athletic prospects in the NFL Draft.
Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press forecasted that the Dolphins would pick Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson with the No. 21 overall pick, helping boost a defense that had been impacted by injuries last season and departures in the offseason.
Maaddi wrote that Robinson would bring an immediate improvement to a Dolphins defense aiming to rebuild quickly after losing Christian Wilkins and Xavien Howard.
“Robinson is an exceptional athlete and three-down player who enhances a defense that lost top edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips to serious injuries last season,” Maaddi wrote.
Dolphins Could Target Prospect With ‘Top-notch Athletic Ability’
Robinson is considered one of the top edge rushers in the draft, with NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein likening him to Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons.
“Edge defender who provides the kind of top-notch athletic ability we’ve seen from players like Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett,” Zierlein wrote. “Robinson might not be as fast as Parsons, but he’s close. He’s extremely agile with the explosiveness to quickly overpower blockers.”
Zierlein acknowledged that Robinson also needed to improve certain aspects of his pass rush, but he has the potential to be an immediate impact player.
“Robinson’s incredible athletic traits alone should make him a reliable NFL starter,” Zierlein wrote. “If he develops a rush approach and learns to string moves/counters together, he could reach his potential as a disruptive force capable of forcing teams to strategize around him.”
Dolphins Could Address Another Urgent Need
The Dolphins could use their top draft pick to address another need on defense, Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel anticipated. Perkins noted that the departure of Wilkins has left a major gap in the interior of the defensive line and the Dolphins could use their first-round draft pick to help fill it.
“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 wrote, suggesting that Texas lineman Byron Murphy II could be a target.
“Murphy (6-1, 297) is short and powerful, and when those are combined with his superb speed the result is a hard-to-stop, three-down player,” Perkins wrote. “He plays with lots of energy against both the pass and the run. Although just a one-year starter he was Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and an All-America selection.”
Trevor Sikkema Pro Football Focus also predicted the Dolphins would draft Murphy, noting that his strength and athleticism are reminiscent of Wilkins.
“Miami lost Christian Wilkins in free agency and could need to replace that juice on the interior,” Sikkema wrote. “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.”
