Part of succeeding in the NFL draft isn't only about hitting on those 1st or 2nd round picks. The best teams are often the ones that find value in the later rounds. They find overlooked prospects for various reasons and maximize their talent through good coaching and development. Such players are often called steals. For the
Chicago Bears, it appears 5th round pick
Dominique Robinson has earned that label.
The edge rusher from Miami of Ohio was a late bloomer. Prior to 2020, he was a wide receiver. Despite the pandemic, he made the transition to the new position. In 2021, he took a significant step forward with 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. His mixture of length, quickness, and burst stood out consistently on tape. When compiling his list of draft steals this year, Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire
pinpointed Robinson among those choices. He had a 3rd round grade on the young pass rusher and saw enormous potential.
That is the scary part.
Regular prospects take at least three years before they start to grasp a position. For example, Darren Waller was a wide receiver in college and shifted to tight end when he got to the NFL in 2016. He was a nobody for three seasons. Then he popped in 2019 for his first of two straight 1,000-yard campaigns. Dominique Robinson went from being a receiver in 2019 to finishing third on his team in sacks in 2021. That is rapid progress.
What makes it even better is he landed in the perfect situation. Matt Eberflus is a defensive coach and brought an experienced staff with him from Indianapolis. They're no strangers to molding young pass rushers. If Robinson follows their directions, he could end up being a sack specialist for this team by 2023. Never mind he'll have a chance to learn from Robert Quinn, one of the best in the NFL.
Given the rapid progress he's already made, Farrar might be onto something. If he blossoms, the Bears defense could be in great shape moving forward.
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