4 top-notch prospects the Jaguars can trade down for in the 2024 NFL Draft
3. Chop Robinson, Edge - Penn State
Even though it's not a pressing need, the Jaguars could bolster their pass rush in the first round. Josh Allen is coming off a breakout season and Travon Walker made strides in Year 2. However, the rotation behind those two could use work. The front office signed Trevis Gipson, who posted seven sacks in 2021 but only one last year.
Gipson could turn out to be a low-risk, high-reward signing, but in case it doesn't pan out, the Jags should add reinforcements to their rotation. It would also protect them if Walker or Allen miss time. At No. 17, the Jaguars will have a shot at landing one of the top edge rushers in the draft.
The consensus sees Jared Verse, Dallas Turner, and Laiatu Latu — in no particular order — as the best three, but if they're all gone by the time the Jags are on the clock, trading down to select Chop Robinson would be an alternative.
At 6'3" and 255 pounds, Robinson has all the tools to develop into an impact player in the NFL. He showed just how athletic he is at the scouting combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds and posting a vertical jump of 34.5 inches.
Robinson was highly recruited coming out of high school but chose Maryland, where he played linebacker. He felt he was playing out of position so he transferred to Penn State, where he switched to defensive end. His biggest knock heading into the draft is his lack of production.
During his two-year stint with the Nittany Lions, Robinson only logged 9.5 sacks. While it's true that there's more to rushing the passer than just sacks, production usually carries over into the pros, and the Maryland native didn't put up great numbers. Another knock on him is that he has yet to develop a pass-rush repertoire. This could potentially make him slide in the draft. Then again, that may not necessarily be a bad thing.
If the Jaguars' coaching staff are willing to work with him and help him develop, they could then trade back a few spots and land him late in the first round or early in the second. They showed in 2022 that they're willing to bet on a developmental prospect when they drafted Travon Walker. They could now take a chance on Robinson.