Football is a game won in the trenches.
Yes, it’s big-armed quarterbacks slinging it around the field to fast guys on the outside who get the highlights. But even in the game’s biggest moments – like in the Super Bowl that was played just two months ago – it was Rams pass-rushers having their way with Bengals blockers that ultimately won the game at the end.
With that in mind, maybe it is fitting that the Bears were able to follow up their pick of offensive lineman Braxton Jones with edge defender Dominque Robinson:
Redhawk ➡️ Bear
Welcome to the Windy City, @domrob_22! pic.twitter.com/asLgMAWN2A
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 30, 2022
Robinson, a Senior Bowl standout, represents the type of defensive lineman I was hoping the Bears would find a way to snag in the later rounds today. An athletic freak with tools, Robinson might need some seasoning before he makes an impact. But The Athletic’s Dane Brugler seems to think the juice might be worth the squeeze. Robinson was one of Brugler’s best players available going into Day 3. Here’s an explanation as to why:
Robinson needs to improve vs. the run and develop his countermeasures, but he has exciting pass rush potential thanks to his athletic traits. He may require time on the practice squad before earning a sub-package role in the NFL.
You had me at “exciting pass rush potential,” Mr. Brugler.
Robinson checks in at 6-5 and 253 pounds. And while NFL analyst Lance Zierlein had Robinson with a Round 3-4 projection, the Bears get the Miami (Ohio) product in Round 5. And he comes with a favorable comparison to Whitney Mercilus, a first-round pick in 2012 out of Illinois who put up 58 sacks, 117 QB Hits, an 73 tackles-for-loss in 138 games over 11 years with the Texans and Packers. That’s a fun comp I’m looking forward to diving into later.
But for now, we’ll leave with this praise from Zierlein:
Bears fans are going to love Dominique Robinson. I think he’s going to turn out to be one of the steals of this draft
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) April 30, 2022