On Thursday, a potential 49ers draft pick delivered a historic performance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson, who ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projected to the 49ers at No. 31 overall in a recent mock draft, demonstrated scorching speed for a guy his stature (6-foot-3, 254 pounds) at the position.
Robinson ran an unofficial 4.49 40-yard sprint, which is amazing in its own right. However, what truly struck out was the 21-year-old’s 10-yard split.
4.49u for DL Chop Robinson. 🔥
Absolutely flying.
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9UjjsGhQvZ— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
Robinson’s 1.54 10-yard split is the fastest ever recorded at the scouting combine for an edge rusher weighing more than 250 pounds.
1.54 10-yard split for Chop Robinson.
Fastest ever for a EDGE over 250 pounds.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) February 29, 2024
While scouting combine testing is far from conclusive, Robinson’s 4.54 40-yard sprint performance compares favorably to a number of talented edge rushers, like Nick Bosa (4.79 in 2019) and Houston Texans standout Will Anderson Jr. (4.60 in 2023).
That's pretty good company for Chop Robinson. 😳
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/bbuzS4vAkf— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
Robinson also had a 10’8 broad leap, making him only the second player in combine history to run a sub-4.50 40-yard sprint and clear 10’5. Vernon Davis, the 49ers’ No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, is the only other player to have accomplished that.
Edge rusher @PennStateFball @chopyoungbull Robinson is only the 2nd player in the last 20 Combines to run sub-4.5 and broad jump at least 10.5-feet after weighing in 250+ pounds.
The other: TE @VernonDavis85 in 2006 pic.twitter.com/7gnKpnQPdO
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) February 29, 2024
Since Dee Ford’s departure, the 49ers have lacked a high-end edge rusher to complement Bosa, who had nearly twice as many pressures (122 to 64) as the next closest player on San Francisco’s defense during the 2023 NFL season, according to Pro Football Focus.
While it’s easy to imagine how well a dynamic young talent like Robinson would fit in on a defensive front seven stacked with All-Pros, his impressive performance today may have pushed his stock well beyond where the 49ers are scheduled to pick with the second-to-last pick in the first round.
