enter senior bowl week I was particularly interested in looking at the edge rusher group, especially Missouri’s Darius Robinson. The Bucs have been underdogs in Tampa Bay for the second year in a row, so a major upgrade to that unit is likely on the market.
Outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, who will turn 32 next season, is a likely candidate for cut, and former first-rounders Joe Tryon-Soyinka and Yaya Diaby are both available as true alpha pass rushers. He has not established himself as a player who can consistently win at No. 1.
Several edge rushers had good weeks in Mobile, Alabama. Kansas State’s Austin Booker appeared on Days 2 and 3 and could have been moved from a Day 3 pick to a Day 2 pick due to his length and athleticism. UCLA’s Laiatu Latu has solidified his status as a first-round prospect with his versatile pass-rushing moves. Penn State’s Adisa Isaac has improved in the draft, and Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland has made a name for himself.
But perhaps none of them had a better week than Darius Robinson, who was named the Senior Bowl Defensive Lineman of the Year by his peers.
Darius Robinson Physical Profile
Darius Robinson is a giant sculpture of a chiseled man. At the Senior Bowl, his height was measured at 6-foot-5, 286 pounds. After talking with him, I was convinced that his body fat might actually be negative.
His arms measure approximately 35 inches and his wingspan measures over 84 inches.based on Mock Draft Possible Using average measurements, all four of these marks easily clear the average for edge rusher positions.
Darius Robinson’s college career
Missouri Edge Darius Robinson – Photo Credit: USA Today
If you like sack-producing edge rushers, this is not for you. According to SportsReference.com, the fifth-year senior has recorded just 13 sacks in his 43 career games. Darius Robinson’s best season in terms of sacks was last year when he had 8.5 quarterback takedowns.
This makes sense since 2023 was the first year Missouri used Robinson as a true edge. From 2019 to 2022, Robinson lined up inside for nearly 87% of the snaps.
In 2023, everything was reversed, and then some. According to Pro Football Focus, More than 97% of Robinson’s snaps came from edge alignment. The change in lineup was a boon for the young pass rusher, who had his best season in college with 42 pressures and 8.5 sacks on just 290 pass rushes.
His 17% winning percentage ranked 22nd in the nation per PFF. And if you only consider actual pass sets (number of times the quarterback doesn’t give the ball away within 1.8 seconds of him, no play action, no screens), that increases that win rate up to 27.5%, which ranks him 15th overall in the country. became.
Robinson was a run defender at the University of Missouri with 112 career tackles (including 21 for loss), and his run stop rate of 8.0% was in the top 40 among edge rushers in all of college football. And because of his long wingspan, his career missed tackle rate was only 12.4%. However, this mark has ballooned to 19.4% in the last year.
Strengths of Missouri edge rushers

Missouri Edge Darius Robinson – Photo Credit: USA Today
Literally, strength is Darius Robinson’s greatest strength. He is a power player who uses his long arms and considerable muscle mass to deliver devastating punches that push opposing linemen back. His violent hands also allow him to easily dispel attacks from opposing linemen and help keep linemen away from the frame.robinson
Despite his considerable height, he plays with excellent pad level and fires both up and out from a low profile. This allows his explosive burst and powerful leg drive to break through his opponents, creating a favorable influence that helps him dislodge them.
But Robinson is no one-trick pony. His jump off the line and explosive first step allows him easy access to the edge of the arc against slower or less athletic tackles. He combined this with an effective inside counter in the form of a swimming movement that again utilizes his plus hand usage. He finishes all of this off with a quick, intense spinning motion that attempts to rotate both inside and outside.
The unusual combination of length and mass makes him a true chess piece who can play outside/inside depending on down and distance. As a stand-up rusher on long and late downs from the A-gap, he would be a nightmare matchup for almost every center in the NFL. His length and burst off the line make him less of an athletic tackle. And his excellent body control and hip fluidity would make him a nightmare for non-athletic guards, as he reduces surface area and can easily slip through creases in the line.
In the run game, he keeps an eye on the backfield, stacks up solo blocks, and uses his strength to quickly shake off and make tackles.
Darius Robinson working on LT. Use your hands/grip strength to hold the POA. Eyes in the backfield. Throw blocks and make tackles.
He entered the Senior Bowl at 6,050 pounds and 286 pounds. pic.twitter.com/V6gfjoGOyG
— Joshua Quaipo (@josh_queipo) February 2, 2024
Darius Robinson’s Weaknesses

Missouri Edge Darius Robinson – Photo Credit: USA Today
It’s hard to explain Darius Robinson’s bend around the arc. The best way to describe this is the high ceilings and low floors. He had great bends from time to time, but it was mostly by accident. It’s as if he doesn’t know how to consciously access the tools in his bag.
When it pops, it stands out as the missing ingredient in the world’s best cuisines. But it’s so rare and clearly not part of his pass rush scheme that it’s hard to qualify it as a strength. The team that drafted him will be obligated to help him unlock that skill, because they…watch out!
The fluidity of his movements comes and goes. Sometimes you can see that he thinks about things in slow movements and it becomes boring and clumsy. And his lower body length is incredibly long, so when he’s on a short arc, he can have a hard time accessing power and speed as he ends up in a high cut.
His hands move wildly, but he is able to work on consistent placement. In particular, his inside hand moves away from the ideal ball spot, which can reduce the effectiveness of his long arms.
Miscellaneous notes

Missouri Edge Darius Robinson – Photo Credit: USA Today
He was a captain for two years at the University of Missouri and by all accounts took the role seriously. He truly saw himself as a vocal and on-field leader, and he strived to get the best out of his teammates.
I currently rate Robinson as a second rounder and he could be a top 35-40 player on my board by the end of the draft cycle. Of the six edge rushers I’ve rated, he ranks second behind Penn State’s Chopp Robinson. There will be few edge rushers in this draft with as high a ceiling as him, and none will be available when the Bucs pick at the end of the first round.
What the team needs to lead its outside linebacker room is a true alpha with the athleticism to win one-on-ones and force double teams, but with the No. 26 pick, they have so much potential. I don’t think there’s another pass rusher out there who’s secret. Robinson would be the best bet, although he would like to acquire that profile through the draft rather than free agency.
Here are all of Missouri DL Darius Robinson’s 1-on-1 reps at the Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/R9G6THuE6b
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) February 2, 2024