The answers the Miami Dolphins needed from pass rusher Chop Robinson are hiding in plain sight
Miami Dolphins pass rusher Chop Robinson came into the 2026 season facing a “prove it” year. How are things looking?
The Miami Dolphins‘ list of questions on the defensive side of the ball leading up to the start of this season were extensive. Perhaps none were bigger, or more important, than the one facing former first-round pick Chop Robinson, though.
Robinson is in his third season of play and he endured an unproductive 2025 effort for Miami. Questions regarding his prognosis moving forward needed answers — and fast. We have 12 more games to collect information, but Robinson’s early play is promising if you’re willing to look past the low hanging fruit.
Chop Robinson’s delivering in a “prove it” 2026 season with the Miami Dolphins
This is where it is important to let go of that one number in your head. The sack total. It’s got to go for a few minutes. For the sake of this conversation, raw production creates an unnecessarily hard line in the sand. Yes, Robinson has one sack on the season through five (four, for him) games. He had another on Sunday wiped out due to being a hair offsides — plus another two hits on Joe Burrow that were clean wins. The ball just happened to get out in under 2.5 seconds on both.
The same was the case in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Robinson had two hits on Patrick Mahomes, one that saw the quarterback throw the ball away as he levitated above the grass in Robinson’s grasp. The other was a questionable (at best!) roughing the passer call on Robinson on an errant throw forced by the pressure.
Let’s use something other than “sacks” for a moment. ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric has Robinson tied for first place through five weeks at 36%. They’re crediting him with 20 wins in 55 reps. It’s not “mission complete” but it is a strong start. Especially when you look at the opposition.
The offensive version of the same metric, pass block win rate, has the following Dolphins opponents from the first five weeks of the season ranked in the top-20:
- Kolton Miller, Raiders (1st)
- DJ Glaze, Raiders (12th)
- Brian O’Neill, Vikings (17th)
- Amarius Mims, Bengals (19th)
Both 49ers tackles are included in the top-20 as well, although Robinson missed that game with a concussion.
So here we are. Robinson ranks among the league’s best at winning in the pass rush through five weeks, while going against a collection of some of the league’s best tackles protecting the passer in the process. It’s a formula we have to hope holds over the rest of the season.
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