2024 NFL Combine: Chop Robinson puts Lamar Jackson on notice, wows with 40-yard dash time

Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson is opening eyes and making his NFL aspirations known at the NFL scouting combine.  Not only has he put Baltimore Ravens quarterback and NFL MVP Lamar Jackson on his sack list, but he also demonstrated he has the speed to do it.

Already one of the top QB sackers entering the 2024 NFL Draft, the Maryland native put forth an impressive first workout at the combine by clocking the second-best time amongst edge rushers with an official time of 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Thursday.

With that time, the 6-foot-3, 254-pound Robinson came in just behind Alabama’s Dallas Turner who clocked in at 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash.  Notably, the Nittany Lions EDGE also put up a split time of 1.54 seconds at 10 yards which was impressive for a guy of his size. 

The workout in all showed off Robinson’s athleticism, speed and what will make him an appealing draft prospect for teams in the middle to end of the NFL Draft.

Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson has his eyes on sacking Lamar Jackson

One of those teams projected to target Chop Robinson will be the Ravens.  Although Robinson is projected in most mock drafts to be off the board by the time the Ravens select at No. 30, he is a player the team could potentially trade up for.  If he slides, he won’t get past the team he grew up watching. 

In fact, Robinson said prior to his impressive workout that he would love to get drafted by his hometown team.  Which player wouldn’t right?  But another noteworthy quote from the Penn State star is that he has the league’s MVP at the top of his NFL QB sack list.

“I would say Lamar Jackson,” Robinson said at the NFL combine.  “I’m from Maryland.  Seeing Lamar all the time just running around, I want to sack Lamar Jackson because he’s the hardest quarterback to sack.”

With an NFL comparison to fellow Penn State alum Micah Parsons, Robinson is looking to make some noise in the NFL with his explosiveness and a pursuit speed he’d need to get to Jackson.  That is if he’s not playing against him in practice if selected by the Ravens.

NFL Mock drafts has Chop Robinson going in the middle-to-late round

With that 4.46 speed, Robinson may see his draft stock rise a bit.  With Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu projected to go ahead of him, Robinson could see himself going a bit higher.  If he falls to the Ravens, it won’t be due to his talent, but due to the needs of other teams.

In looking at some of the latest mock drafts, NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks has Robinson going at No. 19 to the Los Angeles Rams.  CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards has Robinson going at No. 23 to the Houston Texans, which would be interesting as the Texans and Ravens look like they are in the beginning stages of a fascinating rivalry.

As far as NFL Mocks, we have Chop Robinson falling out of the first round, as the edge rushers begin to come off the board late in the first round.  After his first workout, it’s hard to believe he’ll get past teams like the Ravens and San Francisco 49ers at the end of the draft, but wherever he goes, he will enter the NFL with some edge and will have Jackson and opposing quarterbacks paying attention to where he lines up.