Dominique Robinson hasn’t made many headlines since entering the NFL, but that could be about to change. After three largely quiet seasons with the Chicago Bears, the 2022 fifth-round pick is turning heads again in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, a longtime NFL insider, Dom Rob is looking like a potential breakout candidate.
“The question lingering on defense is who will play the edge opposite Montez Sweat when Dayo Odeyingbo goes inside on passing downs. Austin Booker is one player, but a guy who’s quietly become one to watch is four-year man Dominique Robinson, who’s big and athletic, and looks natural in new coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense,” Breer wrote on July 25.
If history is any indication, Allen’s system might be exactly what Robinson needs.
A Look Back at Dom Rob’s Time in Chicago
Robinson was selected 174th overall in the 2022 draft by the Bears after a late college position switch from wide receiver to defensive end at Miami (OH). Though raw, his length (6’5”, 253 pounds), athleticism and burst off the edge made him an enticing project for a Bears team that badly needed help harassing opposing quarterbacks from the edge.
He showed immediate promise, netting 1.5 sacks in his NFL debut against the 49ers—marking the most by a Bears rookie in a season opener since 1987. Things didn’t go as well for him over the next two years, though.
His 2023 and 2024 campaigns saw diminishing returns, including a sackless 2024 season where he finished with just five solo tackles over six games. Over his first three seasons, he played in 34 games (eight starts), netting 49 tackles, 2.0 sacks, four QB hits and three pass breakups.
Why Dennis Allen’s Defense Could Mean a Breakthrough Year for Dominique Robinson
GettyChicago Bears DE Dominique Robinson could be revived in Dennis Allen’s defense.
Despite those unimpressive numbers, Robinson remains an intriguing asset due to his physical tools and the context of his role. The Bears’ new DC is known for unlocking production from overlooked players, particularly those with length and twitch. Allen’s scheme relies heavily on aggression, disguises and physicality—things that could play directly to Robinson’s strengths.
Allen’s defense emphasizes attacking the quarterback with disguised fronts, man coverage and rotational pressure, which lessens the need for edge defenders to diagnose complex run fits—an area where Robinson has struggled. Instead, it allows players like Robinson to pin their ears back and focus more on creating chaos off the edge. This simplicity and aggression cater to Robinson’s burst, bend and reach, and that should give him a more defined and purposeful role than he’s had previously.
Allen also has a long track record of coaxing production out of underutilized players, dating back to his days with the Saints and Raiders. If Robinson continues his strong camp showing, he could follow in the footsteps of other Allen reclamation projects.
Thus, Dom Rob — who has been called a cut candidate by several analysts — may not just make the roster, he could become a key rotational piece on a revamped Bears defense. And if he manages to turn those flashes into consistency, Robinson’s NFL story may just be getting started.
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