'We're counting on him': After down year, Dolphins...
Key takeaways
- The onetime first-round pick began his career with a six-sack rookie season, in which he finished fifth in defensive rookie of the year voting.
- With a stripped-down roster in 2026 and a new, defense-minded head coach, the Dolphins will rely on Robinson to bolster their pass rush and then some.
- "Hopefully he becomes an every-down player," Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Robinson's production dipped in 2025. The Dolphins are hoping for a big rebound in Year 3. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Marcel Louis-Jacques Jul 3, 2026, 06:00 AM ETClose Marcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- There are high expectations, and then there are the Miami Dolphins' expectations for Chop Robinson in 2026.
The onetime first-round pick began his career with a six-sack rookie season, in which he finished fifth in defensive rookie of the year voting. He followed it with a relatively disappointing 2025 season, when his production dipped in nearly every defensive category.
With a stripped-down roster in 2026 and a new, defense-minded head coach, the Dolphins will rely on Robinson to bolster their pass rush and then some.