Miami Dolphins bolster pass rush, taking Chop Robinson of Penn State with 21st pick of NFL draft

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins selected Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson with the 21st pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

General manager Chris Grier used his first opening-round pick since 2021 to bolster a defense that saw a mass exodus of talent this spring, including standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who signed a $110 million contract with Las Vegas at the start of free agency.

Robinson figures to fill an immediate need for new Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver with his first-step quickness, but his college production didn’t quite match his athleticism — he had 9 1/2 sacks, 31 tackles and three forced fumbles over the past two seasons with the Nittany Lions, along with two sacks at linebacker with Maryland in 2021.

The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Robinson, who switched to defensive end after transferring to Penn State in 2022, said his lack of production in college was because of “inconsistencies” with his hand placement.