Saints hosted Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson for pre-draft visit

Add Chop Robinson to the list of prospects meeting the Saints before the 2024 NFL draft. The Penn State pass rusher already visited New Orleans:

One of the New Orleans Saints’ pre-draft visits almost slipped under the radar. Penn State pass rusher Demeioun “Chop” Robinson told the Daily Collegian’s Sam Woloson that he visited the Saints the week before the school’s March 15 pro day; the same week in which the team met with Northern Iowa defensive tackle Khristian Boyd at their headquarters in Metairie. Robinson is an impressive athlete, and he can move and make plays unlike anyone else the Saints have at defensive end.

Robinson, 21, weighed in at a hair under 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he put up great numbers in athletic testing drills: timing the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds and clocking the short shuttle in 4.25 seconds, with a 6.94-second mark inn the three-cone drill at his pro day. He also leapt 34.5 inches vertically and 10 feet, 8 inches broad. That combined in a 9.79 Relative Athletic Score, which is well within the range that lines up with the Saints’ own in-house metrics.

He’s undersized by New Orleans’ standards, but both head coach Dennis Allen and college scouting director Jeff Ireland have expressed an eagerness to add different body types and more versatile athletes at defensive end than they’ve valued before. After tying for the fourth-fewest sacks in the NFL last season, they can’t afford to be so picky.

And Robinson could be a good get. He’s commonly projected to go in the first round, possibly as early as to the Saints at No. 14, though most mock drafts have him being picked after other players like UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Florida State’s Jared Verse. He had 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 22 games at Penn State, having started his college career at Maryland. Pro Football Focus charting credited him with 48 pressures in 2022 (12 games) and 26 of them in 2023 (10 games), when he missed time with an unspecified head injury after a bad collision against Ohio State. He’s healthy now and hoping to put his best foot forward when meeting with NFL teams like the Saints.

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2024 NFL draft: 7 most realistic options for the Ravens in the first round

We’re looking at the seven most realistic 2024 NFL Draft options for the Baltimore Ravens in the first round

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits will likely simulate 100s scenarios for all seven rounds, with realistic options starting to take shape.

With Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking at the seven most realistic options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

2024 NFL draft: 7 most realistic options for Eagles in the first round

We’re looking at the seven most realistic options for the Philadelphia Eagles at Pick No. 22 overall in the first round of the NFL draft

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a strong start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits will likely simulate 100s scenarios for all seven rounds, with realistic options starting to take shape.

With visits to the top 30 starting to increase, we’re looking at the seven most realistic options for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated first round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

The 2024 salary cap is set at $255.4 million.

The Ravens will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re reviewing an updated first-round mock draft.

2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two-round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

2024 Eagles mock draft roundup: Philadelphia reloads at cornerback position

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a strong start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits believe the Eagles will reshape the secondary by targeting a cornerback.

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

2024 Ravens mock draft roundup: Baltimore reloads at offensive tackle

We’re looking at the updated mock draft roundup for Baltimore as the Ravens rebuild the offensive line

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits believe the Ravens are set for a rebuild in the trenches.

With the Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking for updated options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

Two big draft analysts say this prospect should replace Trevor Penning

Two big draft analysts picked the same prospect to replace Trevor Penning. Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu may not get past New Orleans in April’s draft:

It’s always interesting when mock drafts are in agreement and a consensus starts to build — even unpredictable teams like the New Orleans Saints can tip their hand during the lengthy process leading up the annual NFL draft. And when major media outlets are linking the Saints to the same prospect ahead of the 2024 draft, it’s time to sit up and pay attention.

Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, two of the longest-tenured draft analysts around, have the Saints targeting a replacement for Trevor Penning. The third-year left tackle hasn’t shown much through his first two seasons, having lost his rookie year to injuries before being benched just six games into his sophomore campaign. He’s flirting with bust status.

And both Kiper and Jeremiah have the same player in mind to upgrade that left tackle spot: Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State. Here’s what Kiper had to say of the situation:

As I mentioned last month, the Saints have seen 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning struggle for two seasons; how much longer will they trot him out there at left tackle? In a deep and talented tackle class, they could upgrade in Round 1. Fashanu, who only turned 21 in December, has fantastic movement traits as both a pass- and run-blocker. At 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, he looks like he could play tight end. He started 21 games on the left side in college.

New Orleans might also be in the market for a wideout to pair with Chris Olave, who has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) and Xavier Worthy (Texas) are the next receivers up in my rankings.

Jeremiah was more succinct, writing that “2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning has not worked out for the Saints. Fashanu is the new solution at left tackle.”

The Saints have expressed optimism that Penning can still develop into a starting-quality left tackle under the team’s new offensive coaching staff. But if Fashanu is the highest-rated player available when they’re on the clock, they shouldn’t hesitate to draft him. Penning can move to the right side and back up Ryan Ramczyk (who might be out of football in the next year or two, depending on how well his bad knee holds up) or learn a new position at left guard and compete to start there. Fashanu is the real deal, and the Saints would be lucky to have him.

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ESPN’s latest 2-round mock draft gives the Commanders help in key positions, including QB

The Commanders land a QB, OL and an edge rusher in this two-round mock draft.

With the NFL combine over, all 32 teams are looking ahead to free agency. Meanwhile, draft analysts are busy pouring over team needs and combine results to put together the latest mock drafts.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid released his first post-combine mock draft Tuesday and keeps things simple for the Washington Commanders with the second overall pick.

As with mock drafts, USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes No. 1 to the Chicago Bears. For Reid, he has North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye heading to Washington.

It’s widely known that Washington will select a QB if it stays put at No. 2, but which one? I elected to go with Maye, as his prior experience in an Air Raid-style offense, his size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) and ability to drive the ball downfield gives him the edge over LSU’s Jayden Daniels. The learning curve might not be as steep for him in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, and there is a lot of upside here with him throwing to receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

No surprise there. While some prefer Daniels to Washington, Reid has been consistent with his fit for Maye to the Commanders.

So what type of help did Reid give Washington with its two second-round picks.

At No. 36, Maye gets a big-time blocker from his college’s archrival: Duke’s Graham Barton.

The Commanders — who allowed 65 sacks in 2023, tied for the second-most in the NFL — could need as many as three new starters along the offensive line. Barton is a plug-and-play option along the interior and even has experience at tackle.

Maye may not like the Blue Devils, but he’d love to have Barton blocking for him over the next decade.

At No. 40, Washington selects a Penn State edge rusher — just not the one you are thinking of, as Chop Robinson lands in the first round in Reid’s mock draft.

The pick: Adisa Isaac.

Losing both Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline last October left the Commanders with mostly rotational and depth players off the edge. Isaac has the potential to be a dependable starter. He is explosive and has good bend around the corner.

Isaac has length and strength, but doesn’t have the athletic profile of Robinson. That’s no knock on Isaac, as Robinson’s testing numbers were ridiculous in Indianapolis. Isaac is going in round two. Why not Washington?

 

Possible Titans 1st-round pick Olu Fashanu suffers injury at combine

Possible Titans first-round pick Olu Fashanu saw his combine cut short due to an injury.

While Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is the preferred choice for the Tennessee Titans if they take a left tackle with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu is a possibility if Alt is off the board in that spot.

Fashanu took part in the NFL Combine on Sunday but his participation was cut short due to a right thigh injury he suffered during his first attempt at the 40-yard dash, he told NFL Network’s Stacey Dales.

Penn State is scheduled to hold its pro day on March 15 and Fashanu thinks he’ll be fine by then, so he’ll have another opportunity to show his stuff.

Fashanu did deal with an unrevealed injury during his junior season, when he appeared in eight games before shutting it down. However, he started all 12 regular-season games for the Nittany Lions last year before opting out of the Peach Bowl.

Before his combine injury, Fashanu measured at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds, with an arm length of 34 inches and a hand size of 8 and 1/2 inches. He was clocked at 5.11 seconds in his lone 40-yard dash attempt and posted a 10-yard split of 1.77 seconds. His vertical was 32 inches and his broad jump was 9-foot-1.

As compared to Alt, Fashanu recorded a smaller hand size and arm length, with the Notre Dame product, who shined in his combine workouts, registering 10 inches and 34 and 1/4 inches, respectively.

Fashanu did top Alt in the vertical jump (32 inches to 28 inches), but fell short in the broad jump (9-foot-1 to 9-foot-4) and 40-yard dash (5.11 to 5.05 seconds).

Tennessee met with Fashanu at the combine and the Penn State product said he would definitely be a fan of reuniting with former teammate Will Levis, who was with the Nittany Lions during Fashanu’s first year there.

Fashanu also credited Levis with helping him make the transition from high school to college, and the two have been in touch recently. You can check out all of Fashanu’s comments on Levis and his meeting with the Titans right here.

While Fashanu’s injury shouldn’t be considered a big deal under normal circumstances, it won’t make a Titans fan base that has been tortured with a ridiculous amount of injuries the past few years feel any better about taking him.

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