Dominique Robinson wasn’t a household name even among draft experts going into last month. That isn’t a shock. Before the 2020 season at Miami of Ohio, he’d been a wide receiver. Before that, he’d been a quarterback in high school. In a last-ditch effort to rescue his athletic career, he switched to defensive end. Despite significant inexperience, he collected 6.5 sacks over 15 games. Combined with a solid Senior Bowl performance, it was enough to convince the Chicago Bears to draft him in the 5th round.
Many view him as a potential unpolished diamond. With more work under a capable coaching staff, he can become a far better NFL player than he ever was in college. This is what makes his pro comparison so interesting. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com was higher on Robinson than most, believing he was good enough to be a 3rd round pick. He sees several similarities to former Houston Texans QB hunter Whitney Mercilus.
When watching them play, it isn’t hard to see the resemblance.
Physically, the two share similarities. Mercilus was 6’4, 260 lbs, with 33-inch arms coming out of Illinois. Dominique Robinson is 6’5, 253 lbs, with 33-inch arms. Mercilus ran a 4.68 in the 40-yard dash, and Robinson ran a 4.72. So the athletic profile checks out. The critical difference is that Mercilus was far more proven in college, grabbing 16 sacks in 2011 alone. He carried that into a successful NFL career, racking up 65 sacks across 11 seasons.
If the Bears got that kind of player in the 5th round, it will be one of the biggest steals in franchise history. There is no telling if that will be the case. All one can say is the kid has talent and falls under the guidance of a good coaching staff. Matt Eberflus has spent 30 years coaching defensive in the NFL and college. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams has done it for more than 20. They’ll know what the rookie needs to take his game as high as possible.
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