2020 NFL Draft: KC Chiefs interview Syracuse edge Alton Robinson

According to Justin Melo of Draft Wire, the Kansas City Chiefs are one team who has interviewed Syracuse pass rusher Alton Robinson before the 2020 NFL Draft.

As the Kansas City Chiefs continue to meet with prospects and complete their final research before the 2020 NFL Draft begins, word has leaked that the team has interviewed Syracuse edge Alton Robinson as part of their pre-draft homework. Per Justin Melo of Draft Wire, the Chiefs are one of four known teams to check in on the pass rusher.

Robinson is a thick defensive end at 6’3, 264 lbs. who began his college career via the JuCo route before catching on at Syracuse. From there, Robinson quickly earned solid time along the team’s defensive front as a playmaker capable of disrupting the pocket. In three seasons, he had 32 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.  He was second-team All ACC in his junior year and earned honorable mention honors his senior season.

An early charge of robbery that was dismissed that led to an initial Texas A&M offer will need to be researched and checked out for any team investing a draft pick in Robinson, but that was years ago by now and his story of turning things around is inspirational. You can read about it here.

Robinson will compare with many pass rushers coming into the NFL whose natural athleticism, burst and strength earn them solid production in college. Namely, many of those same players find that coasting on their natural talents does not equal the same production in the pros. Robinson is not alone as a player who will need coached up on technique, hand usage, et al.

For the Chiefs, the addition of someone on the edge makes plenty of sense given Alex Okafor‘s injury history and the fact that Tanoh Kpassagnon is one year from unrestricted free agency. The Chiefs also lost Emmanuel Ogbah to the Miami Dolphins in free agency and Breeland Speaks‘ ceiling is unknown at this stage.