Missouri DL Darius Robinson Met With KC Chiefs at Combine, Praised Program
There may be nearly two months until the 2024 NFL Draft, but it'll be here before the football world can blink.
The Kansas City Chiefs are adjusting on the fly after another long season capped off by a championship win. It's a good problem to have. For general manager Brett Veach and company, the annual Scouting Combine is a perfect opportunity to get familiar with prospects and prepare for April.
Could Kansas City select a local prospect early in the draft? The precedent has been set with linebacker Nick Bolton in 2021 and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah last year. This year's class features another intriguing prospect on that side of the ball: Missouri's Darius Robinson. Not only is the defensive lineman a projected early-round pick, but he's also met formally with the Chiefs and is a big fan of what they have going on.
Robinson confirmed the meeting on Thursday, also praising Kansas City's coaching staff by referring to them as some of the greatest of all time.
"Yeah, I met with the Chiefs, it was a great interview," Robinson said. "Seeing Andy Reid, he's a G.O.A.T. The DC (Steve Spagnuolo), G.O.A.T. The D-line coach (Joe Cullen), G.O.A.T. They have a great program over there. It'd be awesome. I love Mizzou, man. It's my second home; I tell people I'm from Michigan and I'm from Missouri."
Robinson, who returned to school for a fifth season, seems to have made the right call. In 12 games, he recorded career-best marks in tackles (43), tackles for loss (14) and sacks (8.5). That, combined with some interesting numbers at the Combine, leaves plenty of reasons for him to go in the top 50 picks of the draft.
In fact, Robinson's pre-draft measurables and explosion/speed numbers from Thursday are remarkably similar to those of current Chiefs lineman Charles Omenihu:
| Combine Measurement | Robinson | Omenihu |
|---|---|---|
Height | 6051 | 6053 |
Weight | 285 | 280 |
Vertical Jump | 35" | 36.5" |
40-Yard Dash | 4.95 | 4.92 |
Versatility is a selling point for Robinson, just like it is for Omenihu. The same can be said for All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who rushes primarily from the interior but can also be kicked outside on certain downs and wreak havoc from there. Robinson doesn't necessarily profile as a "tweener" at the next level, but rather a chess piece type of lineman who is self-admittedly capable of lining up anywhere. Robinson says Jones is one of his favorite pass rushers to watch.
Kansas City has multiple areas of need this offseason, although a pair of them could depend on the fluid situations of Jones and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. Answers should be coming shortly, giving them potential clarity as the offseason continues. The legal tampering period and free agency will be the next steps, then the draft can cap everything off. A formal meeting is far from a tie to serious interest, so it'd be premature to assume the Chiefs want to bring Robinson into the fold. At the very least, though, there appears to be tons of respect and admiration beaming from the local prospect.
