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Darius Robinson

Cardinals Activate Darius Robinson From IR

October 28th, 2024 at 5:58pm CST by Ben Levine

Darius Robinson could end up making his NFL debut this Sunday. With the first-round rookie’s activation window coming to an end later this week, the Cardinals have added Robinson to the active roster. Howard Balzer reports that the team has activated the defensive lineman from injured reserve.

Per Darren Urban of the team’s website, Robinson’s 21-day activation window was set to end this Wednesday. This meant the Cardinals either had to activate the defensive lineman or lose him for the rest of the season.

Robinson suffered a calf injury in August that ultimately landed him on IR. He returned to practice earlier this month but suffered a brief setback with his calf that kept him out of practice. That unexpected absence likely played a role in Robinson’s almost-21-day stay in the activation window.

The Missouri star transitioned from the interior to the edge in 2023, leading to a career-high 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. That performance helped put him on the first-round radar, and the Cardinals ended up selecting the DL with the No. 27 pick in this year’s draft.

With BJ Ojulari being lost for the season with a torn ACL, the Cardinals were going to be especially dependent on their rookie in 2024. The Cardinals rank towards the bottom of the league in sacks (15), so Robinson could certainly add a spark to a pass-rush unit currently led by Dennis Gardeck and Zaven Collins.

Cardinals Open DL Darius Robinson’s Practice Window

October 11th, 2024 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 11: Robinson experienced discomfort with his calf during Thursday’s practice, Gannon said. As a result, he will not be activated in time for Week 6. Plenty of time will remain for Arizona to being Robinson into the fold before his 21-day activation clock expires.

OCTOBER 7: Darius Robinson was sidelined for the Cardinals’ first five games of the season, but he could be close to suiting up. The first-round rookie had his practice window opened on Monday, per Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.

[RELATED: G Will Hernandez Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury]

Robinson suffered a calf injury in August, threatening his Week 1 availability. To little surprise, Arizona elected to designate him for return from injured reserve ahead of the roster cutdown deadline. Teams were permitted to do so with two players in 2024 as part of an IR rule tweak, and the Cardinals took that route with Robinson as well as O-lineman Christian Jones.

During a five-year run at Missouri, Robinson primarily worked along the defensive interior. During the 2023 campaign, however, he played on the edge and enjoyed success in a pass-rushing role. The 23-year-old racked up 8.5 sacks (a major jump compared to his previous career high of 3.5) along with 14 tackles for loss. That production put him in the first-round conversation, and Arizona selected him at No. 27.

Robinson’s addition came about as the Cardinals sought to bolster their pass rush. That unit suffered a notable blow before the regular season even started when BJ Ojulari suffered an ACL tear, shutting him down for the campaign. Especially with Ojulari out of the picture, Robinson could find himself logging at least a notable rotational role once he is activated.

Today’s move opens gives Arizona 21 days to officially bring Robinson onto the active roster. One of the team’s eight IR activations was already used when he was designated for return, which also applies to Jones. The latter practiced last week, though he has yet to be activated. A move on that front for he and Robinson should be expected to take place relatively soon.

Cardinals Get Down To 53

August 27th, 2024 at 6:37pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cardinals finalized their initial 53-man roster with the following moves:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

We’ve already reported on the most notable name, Ridder. The Cardinals instead opted to rely on second-year passer Clayton Tune to back up Kyler Murray behind center. There’s still a chance Ridder could remain on the practice squad as QB3.

Robinson and Jones will miss the first four games of the season, but both have been designated to return from IR eventually. Jones Jr. will miss the 2024 season, though.

Two rookie draft picks failed to make the 53-man. Alabama Birmingham receiver Palmer (sixth-round) and Miami (FL) cornerback Davis (seventh-round) both hit the waiver wire following the preseason. Undrafted receiver Xavier Weaver out of Colorado, does make the roster, though.

Other surprises were the cutting of Carter and Barnes. Carter struggled last year before parting ways with the Jets, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. Six games in Arizona last year were not enough to warrant a return in 2024 on the active roster. Carter had been shopped around a bit as of late, but with no buyers, he hits the waiver wire. Barnes started six games for the team last year after three years in Green Bay, where he started 24 games.

Cardinals’ First-Round DE Darius Robinson Out Multiple Weeks

August 24th, 2024 at 5:02pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cardinals’ defensive line depth took a hit this afternoon when it was reported that first-round defensive end Darius Robinson suffered a calf injury. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Robinson’s injury will require a multi-week absence.

Armed with two first-round picks in this year’s draft, Arizona selected Robinson out of Missouri at pick No. 27 after securing wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth-overall pick. Robinson was a five-year defender for the Tigers. He provided contributions throughout his collegiate career, but it wasn’t until his redshirt senior season that he broke out. His 2023 sack (8.5) and tackle for loss (14.0) numbers surpassed the stats he had put up in the previous four years combined (4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss).

The Cardinals were hoping that Robinson’s addition would provide an upgrade to a pass rush that ranked 30th in the NFL last year with only 33 total sacks. Robinson was set to join returning starters Zaven Collins and Dante Stills on the defensive line, along with free agent additions Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones. Most of the team’s sacks came from outside linebacker, despite a base 4-3 defense, but the addition of Robinson had the potential to change that and take some pressure off of the linebackers.

Rapoport posits that Robinson’s extended absence may warrant a start to the season on injured reserve. If that’s the case, the rookie pass rusher would have the possibility to make his NFL debut as early as Week 5 of the 2024 season. In the meantime, the Cardinals could field a defensive front consisting of Collins-Nichols-Jones-Stills, with Stills shifting to end, where he spent about half his time last season.

Cardinals Sign Round 1 DL Darius Robinson

May 28th, 2024 at 5:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cardinals are one step closer to completing their rookie signings. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals have signed first-round defensive lineman Darius Robinson. The rookie inked a four-year, fully guaranteed $13.8MM deal.

[RELATED: Cards Sign Round 1 WR Marvin Harrison Jr.]

The Cardinals entered the draft armed with a pair of first-round picks. After selecting star wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth-overall pick, the front office used pick No. 27 on the Missouri defensive lineman.

Considering the unprecedented run on offensive players to begin the draft, Robinson was still one of the first defenders to hear their name called. The 22-year-old was the eighth defensive player off the board (and the sixth defensive lineman). This wasn’t a huge surprise considering the prospect’s breakout 2023 campaign. After establishing himself as a starter at Missouri in 2022, he took it to another level this past year, finishing with 14 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. For his efforts, Robinson earned a first-team All-SEC nod after the season.

The Cardinals’ 33 sacks last season ranked 30th in the NFL, so the organization is hoping the rookie can provide a spark. Likened to Arik Armstead, Robinson has the ability to play multiple positions on the defensive line, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he slots in at defensive end during his first season in the NFL.

With Robinson now signed, the Cardinals have two unsigned rookies: third-round running back Trey Benson (Florida State) and fourth-round safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Texas Tech).

Lions Viewed Packers As Threat To Draft CB Terrion Arnold?

May 7th, 2024 at 8:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions joined the Eagles in going cornerback-cornerback to start the draft. Beyond slot corner Brian Branch, this will effectively complete a Detroit overhaul at the position.

Terrion Arnold began the Lions’ CB-CB first two rounds, with Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. going to Detroit a day after the team traded up for the Alabama-developed cover man. In reuniting Branch and Arnold, the Lions needed to move up the board. The team’s intel probably involved a lurking division rival.

Arnold’s camp viewed the Packers as a team squarely on the radar to draft the corner at No. 25, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The Packers are believed to have rated Arnold highly going into Round 1. The Lions climbed up five spots (via the Cowboys) to draft Arnold at No. 24, completing an interesting CB revamp at the position.

Coverage issues created some turnover going into the offseason, and the Lions had trade acquisition Carlton Davis on track to team with Cameron Sutton. But Sutton’s domestic violence arrest — and delay turning himself in — led to the Lions cutting bait on the 2023 free agency pickup. The team was still eyeing corners in the wake of that arrest, as it did not tender Jerry Jacobs as an RFA. The team now looks deep at the position, with Davis, Branch, Arnold and Rakestraw joining the likes of Kindle Vildor, Amik Robertson and Emmanuel Moseley. Given Moseley’s two ACL tears since October 2022, the ex-49ers mainstay is more flier than surefire contributor at this point. It cost the Lions far less to sign him this year than last.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst came into this draft 7-for-8 in going defense with first-round picks, with the 2020 Jordan Love trade-up the exception. Prior to Gutekunst’s 2018 move into the GM chair, the Pack had not chosen an offensive player in the first round since 2011. Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes were part of Gutekunst’s draft run, with the latter — who did not see his fifth-year option picked up — running into injury trouble early in his career. The Packers also traded Rasul Douglas to the Bills at last year’s deadline.

Green Bay, which did not join Detroit in hosting Arnold on a “30” visit, did not draft a corner until Round 7 (Kalen King). The team chose tackle Jordan Morgan at No. 25. Discussing a trade with the Seahawks for No. 16, the Packers did not make an offer for that pick. It cost the Lions No. 73 overall and a 2025 seventh-rounder to move from No. 29 to No. 24. They will bet on Arnold being worth the package sent to Dallas.

The Lions did not view it as likely Arnold would still be there by No. 24, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, but the team is believed to have put together trade parameters involving another player. That helped accelerate Detroit’s move up the board. Presumably viewing it as unlikely Arnold would make it past the Eagles at No. 22, the Lions observed Philly draft Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell. Both teams benefited from the draft not producing a defensive pick until No. 15. As for the player the Lions were previously targeting with a trade-up maneuver, Breer indicates Brad Holmes and Co. were eyeing Mizzou’s Darius Robinson.

It is not clear if the Lions and Cowboys had a trade worked out prior to Arnold remaining on the board, but the Lions were apparently ready to trade up for multiple defenders in this class. A versatile defensive lineman, Robinson ended up going to the Cardinals at No. 27.

Cardinals Select DL Darius Robinson At No. 27

April 25th, 2024 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

After adding one of the top offensive players earlier in the night, the Cardinals have now added an intriguing defensive prospect. The team has selected Missouri pass rusher Darius Robinson with the No. 27 pick.

While No. 4 overall choice Marvin Harrison Jr. filled a glaring need for the Cardinals, so does Robinson. Arizona struggled to rush the passer last season, having seen J.J. Watt retire and Zach Allen defect to Denver in free agency. The Cards did not do much on the edge, either, largely rolling with a low-cost crew during a rebuilding campaign. Robinson will give Jonathan Gannon more options outside.

Coming off the Senior Bowl, Robinson scheduled a whopping 20 pre-draft visits. He will join the Cardinals after a versatile career at Mizzou. The SEC program lined Robinson up across its formation, and he profiles as a power rusher as opposed to a player who will win consistently around the edge. With the Cardinals rolling out a 3-4 defensive scheme in Gannon’s first season, that could make the 6-foot-5, 285-pound performer valuable as a down lineman potentially.

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah likened Robinson’s profile to Arik Armstead coming out of Columbia; that certainly represents an intriguing comp. The inside/outside talent, who saw more time at defensive tackle in 2022, totaled 8.5 sacks and a Tigers-most 14 tackles for loss last season. With this draft class not as deep at D-tackle compared to D-end, the Cardinals have an interesting prospect to mold. Robinson is going to a team without too much of note in the pass-rushing department.

The Cardinals’ 33 sacks last season ranked 30th in the NFL. Although the team used a second-round pick last year on BJ Ojulari, the cupboard is nearly bare beyond him. Career special-teamer Dennis Gardeck led the Cards with six sacks last season, as converted ILB Zaven Collins worked as a regular OLB starter. Robinson will be tasked with delivering immediate impact, as playing time will be available — perhaps at multiple positions.

In terms of first-round picks, this wraps the Deshaun Watson trade. The Cardinals acquired the third first-rounder from that 2022 blockbuster last year, moving from No. 3 to No. 12 to give the Texans rights to Will Anderson Jr.

Draft OL Rumors: Fashanu, Latham, Fautanu, Buccaneers

April 20th, 2024 at 5:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Some teams in the NFL are known for drafting the best player on the board in their draft slot regardless of position. Others have made a reputation for drafting players at a position of need regardless of value. The Saints are a team that could end up in the best of both worlds later this month, according to Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post.

At 14th overall, the Saints could be in position to take a player at a huge position of need. La Canfora informs us that multiple general managers in the league have the sense that New Orleans is “all about finding players to fill immediate starting needs.” With offensive line as a big position of need at the moment, Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu has been repeatedly linked to the Saints.

Drafting Fashanu at No. 14 overall would hardly be considered a reach. Fashanu projects as a prototypical left tackle and, in most rankings, ranks as the draft’s second-best tackle prospect behind Notre Dame’s Joe Alt. Getting the OT2 on the board at 14th would be a huge win for the Saints, especially if Alt goes to the Chargers at No. 5, as many suspect. If someone between the Chargers and Saints selects Fashanu, look to Alabama tackle JC Latham as another potential target in New Orleans.

Here are a few other rumors concerning the offensive line class of the 2024 NFL Draft:

  • While we mentioned that most rankings see Fashanu as the OT2 in this year’s draft, some have pegged Latham in that draft slot. According to Peter Schrager of NFL Network, some teams like Latham so much that he could be taken as the second offensive tackle off the board. Alabama hasn’t had the best recent history producing offensive tackles under Nick Saban. Evan Neal, Alex Leatherwood, Jedrick Wills, and Jonah Williams all serve as recent examples who have failed to live up to their draft stock. Some see Latham projecting best as a guard at the next level, as he’ll need to continue improving to play tackle in the NFL. If those teams that see him as the second-best tackle in the draft are right, though, Latham could break recent trends for the Crimson Tide.
  • Washington offensive line prospect Troy Fautanu is another player that splits teams on where he will play at the next level. While many see him projecting as an interior lineman in the NFL (the best interior lineman in this year’s draft according to some), Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post tells us that some scouts are starting to believe he can play tackle as a pro, like he did for the Huskies. He has the talent and potential to play any position on NFL offensive lines. As we’ve reported, so far, he has visited the Bengals, Ravens, Jaguars, Steelers Eagles, and Jets.
  • One team who has been labeled as a squad looking to add to the trenches is the Buccaneers. According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, Tampa Bay is looking to upgrade at guard, center, and outside linebacker. With the 26th pick in the draft, the Buccaneers can expect to see players like Arizona’s Jordan Morgan and Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe available at guard and, perhaps, Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson at center. The top tier of pass rushers should be long gone, but players like UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, Penn State’s Chop Robinson, Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland, and Missouri’s Darius Robinson could be available late in the first round.

Teams Viewing Steelers As Most Likely To Trade For WR?

April 19th, 2024 at 10:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Known more for drafting and developing wide receivers — often from Day 2 — than trading for them, the Steelers have produced an impressive track record on this front. Over the past 15 years, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens have enjoyed varying levels of success with the team despite coming off the board after Round 1.

It is arguable no team has strung together a run of homegrown WR talent like this in the modern game, but rumblings continue to emerge about the Steelers being ready to pull the trigger on a trade. A report earlier this week indicated the team had inquired about Brandon Aiyuk and was interested in trading for a wideout, and the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora submits another offering in this direction.

Rival execs view the Steelers as the team potentially the most motivated to acquire a receiver via trade. While a Tee Higgins move will not happen — unlikely to be moved, Higgins definitely would not be dealt within the division — teams certainly are monitoring the 49ers regarding an Aiyuk swap.

Although Sean Payton and Broncos GM George Paton said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) he has spoken with Courtland Sutton recently, the 6-foot-4 wideout showed by far the most chemistry with Russell Wilson last season. The team currently employing Wilson may be interested in reuniting the two, as Sutton is staying away from Broncos workouts in hopes of a new contract.

The Broncos nearly traded Sutton to the Ravens last year, and after their Jerry Jeudy asking price dropped drastically (from a first-rounder to accepting fifth- and sixth-rounders from the Browns), Sutton probably will not cost a second-round pick — Denver’s hope in 2023 — entering his age-29 season. Aiyuk will be more difficult to acquire, and it is worth wondering if the Steelers would pull the trigger, given the fifth-year wideout’s extension price and the AFC North franchise’s success finding receivers in the draft.

This draft is set to produce yet another deep receiver crop, which stands to lower prices in trades. But the Steelers may need more than one starter. Dealing Johnson to Carolina in a deal that brought back cornerback Donte Jackson, Pittsburgh has little surrounding Pickens presently. A slot player and a second boundary option would stand to be in play for the Steelers. The 6-foot-4 Sutton (signed through 2025 on a $15MM-per-year deal) made some of last season’s best catches, working as a deep threat and red zone target (10 2023 TDs) for Wilson. The 6-foot Aiyuk, who is tied to a fifth-year option worth $14.1MM, has displayed a bit more versatility in Kyle Shanahan‘s system.

If the Steelers are to execute a trade, they could devote more draft resources to other positions. Pittsburgh is targeting help at center and tackle, with The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly indicating a right tackle addition is on the team’s radar (subscription required). They hosted 11 O-linemen on “30” visits, including Georgia’s Amarius Mims, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga along with interior O-lineman Graham Barton (Duke), Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) and Zach Frazier (West Virginia), Kaboly adds. They also met with Washington O-lineman Troy Fautanu. Daniel Jeremiah’s big board lists each of these players as top-30 talents; the Steelers pick at No. 20.

The Steelers, who cut two-year center starter Mason Cole, look to be considering moving 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones — their primary right tackle to close the season — to the left side, where he primarily played in college. That would leave three-year LT starter Dan Moore Jr. in limbo. Pro Football Focus has not been a Moore fan, but the former fourth-round pick — who is going into a contract year — has started 49 career games. After the team drafted Jones to step in for Chukwuma Okorafor, the latter is now with the Patriots. A tackle move — one that may be definitively in the Steelers’ Round 1 plans, as this is a deep class — would stand to give Jones a long-term bookend.

Pittsburgh’s Jackson trade aside, a cornerback will also be targeted — just likely not in Round 1 — according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Jackson is in a contract year, while the team cut Patrick Peterson. Mike Tomlin said a Peterson reunion will be considered, but the likely Hall of Famer is going into his age-34 season.

Dulac adds the Steelers also like Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson, whom the Tigers used across the formation. Ranked 39th on Jeremiah’s big board, the 285-pound defender might not be available for Pittsburgh without a second-round trade-up. The Steelers hold the No. 51 overall pick. In fact, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes Robinson is expected to be off the board at some point late in the first round. The Steelers have Cameron Heyward under contract for one more season, his age-35 campaign.

NFL Draft Rumors: Cowboys, McCarthy, Robinson

April 6th, 2024 at 5:54pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys hosted a number of 2024 NFL Draft prospects for “top 30” visits this week. The visiting group included potential first-round targets like Taliese Fuaga, Graham Barton, and Darius Robinson as well as projected Day 2 selection Junior Colson.

Fuaga, an offensive tackle out of Oregon State, and Barton, a projected interior offensive lineman out of Duke, make sense considering the Cowboys’ losses on offensive line this offseason of Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz. If Fuaga is able to start, this would allow Dallas to keep Tyler Smith at guard, where he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023. In order to land Fuaga, though, the Cowboys would likely have to trade up earlier into the first round. Barton played left tackle for the Blue Devils for the last couple of years, but his early college film at center shows the versatility that he could bring at the NFL level.

Robinson, a defensive end out of Missouri, feels like the typical Cowboys pass rusher selection and adds depth to a position that saw Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler follow former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Washington. A bigger defensive end, Robinson could provide some versatility across the defensive line and may be available long enough for the Cowboys to trade back to collect some extra picks and still select him. Colson, a linebacker out of Michigan, would be a nice addition to a position that could use some attention with Micah Parsons spending more time at end. While he’s likely a second- or third-round pick, he’s worth note as he’s expected to be the first linebacker off the board.

Here are a couple of other rumors making the rounds in the weeks leading up to this month’s draft:

  • We have seen the draft stock of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy soaring over the last few weeks. Once considered a tier-two quarterback behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, the polarizing McCarthy has somehow found himself in consideration for the No. 2 overall draft selection. While his stock continues to inflate, Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan pointed out some of the red flags that have some scouts feeling less than confident about the former Wolverine. McCarthy has been compared to former Steelers’ first-round pick Kenny Pickett “due to his inability to drive the ball down the field.” His strong sense of timing made up for a lack of arm strength in college, but some worry that it will prevent him from being able to make some throws at the NFL level. While he’s almost guaranteed to be a first-round pick due to the top-heavy nature of the position this year, many don’t have a first-round grade on McCarthy.
  • Chop Robinson is set to be the next pass rusher out of Penn State to be selected in the first round. The projected Day 1 edge rusher had already taken visits with the Eagles, Ravens, and Saints, but Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz informs us that visits with the Giants and Jets were scheduled for this past week, as well. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 adds that the Texans have Robinson firmly on their radar after meeting with him at the NFL scouting combine.
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