Can Dominique Robinson step up for Bears in 2024?

The Chicago Bears will continue to afford former fifth-round pick Dominique Robinson opportunities to develop throughout the upcoming training camp and preseason periods. The No. 174 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Robinson has yet to establish himself in Matt Eberflus’ defense.

A lack of depth and injuries miscast Robinson into a larger role than he should have played in 2022 as a fifth-round rookie. The former Miami (OH) standout played 550 snaps as a first-year small-schooler, accounting for over 50% of all Bears defensive snaps that season. He flashed on occasion, totaling 3.0 sacks, but struggled with the more physical and technical aspects of the game, earning a lackluster run-stopping grade of 39.5 from Pro Football Focus.

Robinson’s role as a sophomore was downgraded in 2023 to what it should have been. The Canton native was more of a rotational defender, playing just 242 snaps, approximately half the responsibility he mistakenly had as a rookie. Robinson still struggled, earning an overall PFF grade of 35.3 as the Bears finished 31st in sacks with 30 quarterback takedowns.

Bears rookie DE Dominique Robinson generated 3 hustle stops in his impressive NFL debut, the most by a rookie defensive lineman in a game in the NGS era (since 2016).

Robinson had a team-high 1.5 sacks on 11 pass rushes.#SFvsCHI | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/5o4uYoYGgF

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 13, 2022

It’s now a critical offseason for Robinson. He’ll no longer be guaranteed a 53-man roster spot in 2024, as the leash often afforded to rookies and sophomores has expired. The Bears still don’t have terrific depth at the EDGE position, meaning Robinson still has an opportunity to earn a rotational role.

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Montez Sweat is the superstar of the edge group. Veteran player DeMarcus Walker will earn the majority of available snaps opposite Walker. Robinson may be in contention with Khalid Kareem and rookie fifth-rounder Austin Booker for the No. 3 edge role behind the starters. Knowing how much new defensive coordinator Eric Washington preferred to rotate his rushers with the Buffalo Bills, it’s an important role that will lead to a lot of playing time for the position-battle winner.