Speculation around the trade deadline has been rampant for weeks. Fans are eager to know if this is finally the time when the Chicago Bears make a bold move to help their roster. General manager Ryan Poles hasn’t really done anything of the sort in a long time. He’s made minor trades to that end, but no truly big swings since 2023 when he swiped Montez Sweat from Washington. With the team finally on the upswing in terms of competitiveness, this feels like the right time to go after somebody. Plenty of big names have been bandied about lately, but the one to watch is Chop Robinson.
People close to the situation at Halas Hall have informed Sports Mockery that the team’s view of the defensive line is as follows: Montez Sweat is likely playing his final season with the team. The same is true for Dayo Odeyingbo, given his ongoing health problems. However, they love the progress Austin Booker has made. They hope that he will be a key fixture for them moving forward. Their goal is to find somebody they can pair him with in the long term. Robinson is the name they’ve been watching the closest.
Chop Robinson checks most of the Bears’ boxes.
For the most part, Poles has operated with long-term thinking at the deadline. He wants to acquire players who aren’t just rentals for half a season. He wants younger guys who have a chance to keep growing. Robinson fits that profile at 23 years old. He’s still just scratching the surface of his potential. After missing week 2, he has 14 pressures and a sack in his last 3 games. The explosiveness, agility, and speed that made him a terror at Penn State have been on full display. It is certainly something the Bears have been missing.
This overshadows how active Chop Robinson is as a run defender. He logged 150 snaps last season against the run. Despite that, he still managed 15 stops for no gain or a loss. It has been much the same this year. His deceptive strength and high motor have made him difficult to deal with. The Bears want players willing to do the dirty work beyond just rushing the quarterback. Robinson is that type of guy. It comes down to whether the team can sell defensive coordinator Dennis Allen on him.
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Robinson’s size will be a discussion.
Allen has always demonstrated a specific preference for bigger defensive ends. He likes their mix of power and length, making it easier to set the edge against the run. Robinson doesn’t fit that profile. He’s 6’3″ and 250 lbs. While not outright small, it is considerably below the 6’5″, 265 lbs threshold that Allen usually sets for his edge targets. The Bears won’t trade for Robinson unless the defensive coordinator is fully on board with the idea and has a plan for how to use him. Thankfully, Allen isn’t completely unfamiliar with his type.
He’s worked with Von Miller, Khalil Mack, and Hau’oli Kikaha. All were of similar size and athleticism. Robinson isn’t what you would call a game-changer. This isn’t a Maxx Crosby-type trade. It is more like the Chase Young deal from 2023. The former #2 overall pick was 24 years old and had flashed with Washington but never reached his full potential. He was flipped to San Francisco for a 3rd round compensatory pick. That is likely what the Dolphins will be looking for if they make Robinson available.
