After already selecting Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick, the Arizona Cardinals have chosen Mizzou DT Darius Robinson at No. 27 to wrap up the team’s work in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
🌵Welcome to the Valley Darius Robinson 🌵
After selecting Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick, the Arizona Cardinals have now added the Mizzou defensive lineman at No. 27. #BirdGang #AZCardinals #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/kzMcdhHaIf
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) April 26, 2024
The 6-foot-5, 296-pound EDGE played five seasons (2019-2023) with the University of Missouri. As a Tiger for 43 games, he collected 112 tackles, 13 sacks and forced one fumble.
Last season, Robinson competed in 12 games, racking up 43 tackles and 8.5 sacks. The Michigan native received first-team All-SEC honors in 2023.
Mizzou finished second in the SEC East with a 6-2 in the conference, going 11-2 overall and winning the 2o23 Cotton Bowl Classic.
Expressed by ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller, he believes the 22-year-old is a perfect match for the Cardinals.
“Robinson is exactly what the Cardinals needed on the defensive line,” Miller said. “The 290-pounder has inside-outside experience and will join an Arizona defensive line that added three veterans in free agency but has few long-term answers upfront. Robinson can be a defensive end on rush downs but his best position might be lining up between the guard and tackle as a pass-rusher. The Cardinals need all the help on the defensive line, and Robinson has big-time ability.”
With the selection of Robinson, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has further bolstered the defensive line this offseason.
Khyiris Tonga, Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones have all signed with Arizona during free agency. Arizona also has L.J. Collier, Phil Hoskins, Ben Stille, Roy Lopez, Dante Stills and Naquan Jones.
Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft rolls on to Friday evening as the second and third rounds begin at 4 p.m. PT. The Cardinals will be on the clock with the No. 35, 66, 71 (via Tennessee Titans) and 90 (via Houston Texans) picks.