Chop Robinson and Olu Fashanu set to matchup twice a year in the AFC East

Olu Fashanu could have been a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but instead, he returned to Penn State and eventually went No. 11 overall to the New York Jets in 2024. Later on Thursday night in the first round, Chop Robinson joined him in the AFC East, getting drafted No. 21 overall by the Miami Dolphins. 

Fashanu and Robinson were Penn State’s only two first-round prospects in 2024 and now they’re set to matchup twice a year for the foreseeable future, Fashanu on New York’s offensive line, and Robinson on the other side of the ball for Miami. 

Robinson became the third defensive player of the James Franklin era at Penn State to become a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, joining Micah Parsons and Odafe Oweh, who were both drafted in 2021. Fashanu joins Saquon Barkley and Jahan Dotson as Franklin’s first-round products on offense. 

Last season for the Nittany Lions, Fashanu didn’t allow a single sack and gave up just 10 total pressures on Drew Allar. Robinson was less durable, playing just 10 games to Fashanu’s 12, and racked up 26 pressures with only three sacks. 

For Robinson, his physical traits outweighed the production to lift him into the first round, though both are viewed as projects and may begin their careers behind established starters. With such an investment by their respective teams, eventually, Fashanu and Robinson project as full-time starters, and their head-to-head matchup will be a fun one for Penn State fans to watch.