A fact of life in the NFL is that not every draft pick will hit. It’s more like baseball. If you’re batting .300 every year, you’re usually having a lot of success. GM Ryan Poles knew in 2022 that he didn’t have a lot of resources to work with. So, he had to manufacture them through trades. That is how he ended up with 11 picks in that draft, allowing him more swings of the bat. One of them was on a kid from Miami of Ohio named Dominique Robinson. Despite only playing edge rusher for two years in his career (he was a wide receiver before that), there were enough signs that made the Chicago Bears feel he had loads of upside.
His first game hinted at this, notching 1.5 sacks against San Francisco. Then, in the following 27 games, he managed a half-sack. That’s all. Nobody was surprised when fans called him a bust. However, recent updates from training camp suggest the improbable is happening.
Showing up in practice is one thing. He’s familiar with the offensive tackles he sees every day. Besides, the Chicago Bears offensive line has endured some health issues. Robinson’s first chance to make an impression didn’t produce much. He had nine rushes in the win over Houston and failed to produce a single pressure. He was also the worst-graded run defender. It must be vexing for coaches trying to figure out why he can’t carry what he’s doing in practice to game situations. Meanwhile, Austin Booker, also a 5th round pick, was giving opposing tackles headaches in his first-ever action. Robinson still has loads of physical talent. The light could always go on. However, his opportunities aren’t limitless. This preseason feels like his last stand.
