The Kansas City Chiefs could go a number of directions with their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While the main focus seems to be on offense with either an offensive tackle or wide receiver in round one, the defensive line is a sneaky, under-the-radar need for the team.
While it's not vital that the Chiefs take a defensive lineman in the first round, there are a few scenarios that could take place that would end with some high-value pass-rushers being available at the end of the first round for Kansas City.
One of those scenarios includes a local product in Mizzou's Darius Robinson. Robinson was one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the SEC last season for a Missouri Tigers program that finished 11-2 with a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State.
Robinson was a huge part of Missouri's breakout year in 2023 as he totaled 43 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, and 8.5 sacks for the Tigers.
Robinson would solve multiple problems up front for the Kansas City Chiefs.
We know that the Chiefs need defensive line help as the defensive tackle room looks pretty lackluster behind Chris Jones. Meanwhile, the edge group will be without Charles Omenihu for a good chunk of next season due to injury. Those are two different positions, though. That's why Robinson would provide tremendous value for Kansas City if he's the pick in round one.
Robinson initially started out as a defensive tackle for the Tigers but gradually made the transition to playing on the edge as a junior and senior in college. That transition paid dividends for Robinson by drastically raising his draft stock. That versatility is exactly what Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looks for in his defensive linemen. We've seen it over and over again with guys like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and even Chris Jones. Charles Omenihu is another example, but he's in a contract year and he's slated to miss some time next year, so it would be wise to draft a replacement for him in this year's draft.
Robinson compares very similarly to Omenihu as he possesses a big, strong frame at 6'5", 290 lbs, and he has sufficient athleticism to go with it. If you're projecting Robinson purely as an edge, he's a sub-par athlete, but he grades out as an elite one by tackle standards. He's a hybrid player who can disrupt pretty easily from the interior because he's quicker than most other defensive tackles, but he can create mismatches on the outside because of his sheer size and strength.
While Robinson certainly has shortcomings—he's got stiffer hips than you'd like for someone who is supposed to play the edge and so on—he's got a great bull rush that he leans on and a very polished pass-rush arsenal for what will be a rookie.
Having yet another versatile defensive lineman who can be moved all around would be absolute chaos for the Chiefs in a good way. Robinson is a true 1-9 technique player who is a little reminiscent of Jones.
Because of the lack of future at the defensive tackle position behind Jones (especially as he ages) for the Chiefs and the constant need to reload the pass rush stable at edge, Darius Robinson would make a lot of sense at pick No. 32 if the board at wide receiver or offensive tackle doesn't fall in the Chiefs' favor