‘Excited for him.’ The Chop Robinson-Dante Trader Jr. connection goes beyond the Dolphins
Whether you’re a doctor, teacher or professional athlete, it’s always good to have a friend at a new job.
Not only does it help ease the transition but makes work fun.
Such is the case between Miami Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson and safety Dante Trader Jr., whom the team recently picked in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I already talked to him,” Trader told reporters May 9. “I said, ‘I don’t care if we’re the same age, you’re going to help me and figure this whole thing out, because I don’t know anything.’ I’m a sponge, so I’m going to be under his wings, under any vet. So that’s the biggest plan, is get a vet, just be a rookie, shut up and work. That’s my mind-set right now.”
Robinson and Trader’s relationship goes back to the University of Maryland, where the second-year edge rusher actually started his collegiate career before transferring to Penn State. The two were both part of the Class of 2021 — Robinson ranked 39th while Trader ranked 40th at his position, according to ESPN — and arrived at campus around the same time.
“Me and Dante were kind of real close when I was there,” Robinson said Wednesday. “I remember coming in first day, we both sat down in the front row in the team meeting. So just him being a pro and seeing that at a young age and he’s still being that guy, I’m excited for him.”
Despite being freshmen, both players saw the field in each of the Terrapins’ 12 games. In Robinson’s lone season at Maryland, he accumulated 19 combined tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. Trader contributed 16 total tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass deflection.
It wasn’t until later in their respective college careers that they began to stand out. After transferring to Penn State, Robinson registered 9.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in his final two years. Trader stayed in College Park, Maryland and had 174 combined tackles, five interceptions and 14 pass deflections during his final three seasons.
That the two were able to reconnect in South Florida as Dolphins draft picks in consecutive years is nothing short of impressive. Robinson was the Dolphins’ first-round selection in 2024 while Miami drafted Trader 155th overall. Another Terrapin — defensive tackle Jordan Phillips - was selected just 14 picks prior. And while Robinson was only moderately familiar with Phillips due to him being class of 2022, Trader and his fellow rookie Terrapin have already been in the lab.
“We’ve already got a plan together that we’re going to go over stuff,” Trader said of Phillips. “He’s teaching me the fronts and things like that and we’re just watching. Just being in the film room together, learning the new NFL process.”
After a an impressive rookie year in which he ranked second among first-year players in sacks (6) and quarterback hits (14), Robinson certainly can give Trader a bunch of advice about how to make an impact early. Trader, however, appears ready to soak up all the tips and tricks from not just Robinson but also everybody in his position group.
“They’re respectable players,” Trader said of safeties Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu. “They did their time in the league and they’re in the league for a reason. They’ve started for a reason. I’m just worried about me and my process. I’m going to lean on them guys and try to get the most out of them.”
