SEC Defensive End May Be A Secret Steal In NFL Draft For New Orleans Saints

Profiling an SEC late bloomer who may be a Day 2 draft steal.

Missouri defensive end Darius Robinson during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine / Credit:© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints tried to address a big need when they signed free agent DE Chase Young. It's hoped that Young will provide a jolt to a Saints edge unit that produced only 16 sacks, 41 QB hits, and 25 tackles for loss in 2023.

Carl Granderson had a strong year, but Cameron Jordan is hoping to rebound from a poor campaign by his standards as he enters his 14th season. Additionally, Payton Turner has been sidelined for 36 of his 51 games as a pro and Isaiah Foskey did little as a rookie.

New Orleans had just 34 sacks as a whole last season, fourth worst in the league. Rookie DT Bryan Bresee was a force at times, but the interior didn't contribute much better pass rush than the edge. It wouldn't be surprising at all if the Saints looked at additional help at each position in the draft.
A player who could play both outside or inside would be an even boost to the defense. This is what makes this SEC star potentially very intriguing.

Darius Robinson, DE - Missouri; 6'5" & 285-Lbs.

Missouri defensive end Darius Robinson (6) pressures Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz (12) / Credit:© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Darius Robinson started his high school career as a basketball player before focusing on football his final two years at Canton High School in Michigan. He'd play sparingly his first two years at Missouri before winning a starting job down the stretch in 2021. After 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022, Robinson exploded with his best year for the Tigers last season.

Missouri had one of the nation's better defenses in 2023. Robinson was a major reason for that as he contributed 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Those exploits propelled him to a First Team All-SEC selection and put him squarely on the map of NFL scouts and draft analysts.

A powerful player with underrated athleticism, Robinson has the strength to play inside in certain situations to bring scheme flexibility to a defense. He has tremendous wingspan and maintains his power at full extension. He'll use that reach to set up offensive linemen for other moves.

Robinson is a power rusher with decent initial burst to get on top of blockers quickly. He's flashed the potential of a wide array of pass rush moves, both power and finesse. Additionally, Robinson has quick-twitch movements to give interior blockers fits when he lines up inside.

Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson (6) sacks Memphis Tigers quarterback Seth Henigan (2) / Credit:© Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

Robinson has the strength to stuff a running game at the point of attack. He combines that with a good change of direction and lateral movement for a player of his size. His short-area quickness allows him to make a lot of plays along the line of scrimmage in backside pursuit.

Still transitioning from a primarily inside to outside defender, Robinson is a bit of a raw project. He has often been too reliant on his natural power, rather than developing the athletic aspect of his game. He's also shown no consistent counter if his initial bull rush or swim moves are stalled.

Far from a refined pass rusher, Robinson will need strong positional coaching to develop at the next level. He'll also need to develop better flexibility. Blockers will often win leverage battles if they can get inside his formidable reach. This can render him ineffective against both the pass and run, where he has also shown a tendency to bite on play-action or misdirection.

Darius Robinson is a bit of a project, but offers immediate situational value because of his size, power, and natural athletic ability. He'll likely be drafted in the second or third round, but has the upside to be a massive mid-round steal if he were to slide even a little bit.