While Aiden Hutchinson continues to rise among the NFL’s best pass rushers, the Detroit Lions barnstormed to the Super Bowl last season. However, they may want to acquire the ideal complement to their young rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Lions’ pass-rush performance from the previous season was much below par, totaling just 41 sacks—the 10th fewest in the league—with Hutchinson accounting for 11.5 of those sacks.

The Lions are in a great position to target Penn State’s Chop Robinson, one of the most potent pass-rushers in this year’s class, so assistance may be on the way.

Detroit Lions Linked to Chop Robinson in the NFL Draft

Robinson transferred from the University of Maryland before to the 2022 season, and during the next two seasons in Happy Valley, his exceptional athleticism has been on full display.

Robinson recorded 31 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks while wearing a Penn State uniform over the course of 22 games.

Along the Lions’ defensive line, Robinson might be a perfect fit opposite Hutchinson, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller. In his most recent mock draft, Miller forecasts Robinson to be selected by the Lions with the 29th overall choice in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“The Lions stick to their board,” Miller writes. “In 2023, that meant going running back and off-ball linebacker in Round 1. But I think Detroit targets a premium position this year. Robinson has electric speed (4.48 in the 40) and first-step quickness, getting on offensive tackles right off the snap. His production in college was limited — just four sacks last season — but this is a bet on his burst and potential. I like his skill set opposite Aidan Hutchinson.”

Chop Robinson NFL Draft Scouting Report

Hutchinson showed the value of having an elite pass-rusher, but the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and several top contenders around the league have proven that few things matter more to the trajectory of a defense than a dominant pass-rush duo.

Robinson’s elite get-off and bend off the edge make him a potential nightmare for opposing offensive tackles and a game-wrecker in the pocket.

NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein describes Robinson as a “edge defender who offers the type of elite athleticism we’ve seen from players like Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett.” While Robinson isn’t quite as quick as Parsons, he’s still rather close. He has the explosiveness to quickly climb over opponents and overwhelm them since he is extremely twitchy.

But in order to play to his full potential against NFL tackles, he will need to improve his hand skills and attack angles. Robinson should be able to start in the NFL because of his explosive athleticism alone.

Pro Football Focus notes that throughout the previous three seasons, Robinson has added 61 quarterback pressures. The powerful edge rusher has been credited with an exceptional 92.3 pass-rush grade and a 90.8 overall ranking.

Robinson’s athletic traits and measurables offer plenty of upside and could elevate Detroit’s already young and swarming defense in coming years.