Getty NFL analyst Bucky Brooks projected head coach Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions to target Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
The Detroit Lions have advanced to their first NFC championship game in 32 years behind a top 5-ranked offense. To become a more complete team next season, though, the Lions will target defensive players draft, mock draft experts are predicting. In his first 2024 mock draft, NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks projected the Lions to pick Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson.
“The Lions need to find a complementary pass rusher to place opposite Aidan Hutchinson,” Brooks wrote. “Robinson is a freak athlete.”
The Lions could use an additional pass rusher opposite defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. While Detroit had 18 defenders record at least 1 sack during the 2023 regular season, Hutchinson was the only Lions defender with more than 5 sacks.
Robinson had 4 sacks in 10 games during his final season at Penn State.
How Chop Robinson Could Fit With the Lions
Hutchinson is one of the bright, young pass rushers in the NFL. He posted at least 9.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons in the league. During 2023, Hutchinson led the NFL in pressures.
In the past four games alone, Hutchinson has recorded 8 sacks. The other statistics he’s produced during that four-game stretch rivals what his teammates have done the entire season.
“The 31 pressures he created through the previous four weeks would rank Hutchinson third on the Lions, including the regular season and two postseason games,” wrote MLive.com’s Benjamin Raven.
Clearly, Brooks is correct. The Lions could use a complementary pass rusher to Hutchinson.
Robinson only had 11.5 sacks in 30 college games during his career at Maryland and Penn State. But NFL scouts love Robinson’s potential at the next level because of his tremendous athleticism.
“He’s a top-tier athlete which, combined with how well he sets up his pass-rush moves, gives him a ton of potential as an edge-rusher in the NFL,” the BR NFL scouting department wrote.
“Robinson also has sneaky strength and is physical at the point of attack. That helps him take advantage of weaker offensive tackles when turning speed to power and overcome some of his size deficiencies as a run defender when his hands and leverage are right.”
In addition to 11.5 sacks, Robinson had 20 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass defenses and 2 fumble recoveries during his college career.
Other Potential Draft Targets for Detroit
There haven’t been any surprises in early mock drafts for the Lions. The experts have Detroit targeting edge rushers such as Robinson and cornerbacks.
That’s not a surprise given the team finished 27th in pass defense. The Lions have also allowed 676 passing yards in two playoff games.
Either a pass rusher or cornerback would help Detroit in that area.
On January 12, The 33rd Team’s Marcus Mosher predicted the Lions to pick Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the first round.
The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner and Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema followed the same logic as Brooks and pegged edge rushers to the Lions in the first round. On January 5, Sikkema predicted the Lions to target Washington edge rusher Bralen Trice. On January 10, Baumgardner had the Lions grabbing Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau.
There’s still a few months before the first night of the 2024 NFL draft. But at this point, it will be a significant surprise if the Lions do not address their pass defense in some fashion with their first pick.