The Jaguars have reached agreement on an extension with tackle Cam Robinson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Robinson will receive a three-year deal worth $54MM, according to RapSheet (on Twitter).
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The 26-year-old was franchise tagged for the second straight year, guaranteeing that he would be in Jacksonville for at least the 2022 campaign. That tag bought the Jaguars some time, allowing them to negotiate a long-term arrangement up until the middle of the summer. Instead of waiting things out, they’ve pounced just before draft day.
Robinson has started all 61 games across his five years in Jacksonville, though he hasn’t performed as a top-tier tackle. Last year, his 67.4 PFF grade in 2021 placed him No. 48 out of 83 qualifying tackles. Still, the Jags went ahead with the $16.6MM tag, which would have slotted him eighth in terms of left tackle salaries. Now, they’ve followed it up with a whopping $18MM/year extension.
The Jaguars have already invested heavily in their offensive line, adding All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff to the interior. Now, they can apply their draft ammo elsewhere — starting with the No. 1 overall pick, where they could select Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker. Of course, they’ve long been expected to target one of those elite edge rushers, but North Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu was also said to be on their radar.
Take Neal or Ekwonu in the 1st
Take Linderbaum in the 2nd or Jurgens in the 3rd
Move Cam inside to LG.
Protecting Lawrence should be their goal with this draft.
Neal, Robinson, Linderbaum/Jurgens, Sherff, Taylor
Jacksonville hasn’t really shown the ability to develop pass rushers. They’ve missed on a few the last 5 or so years despite investing decent draft capitol.
You want them to move an $18m player to guard? And if their problem is that they can’t develop pass rushers, then take Hutchinson, who doesn’t need much development, instead of another raw athletic project.
You want them to keep a guy who ranks No. 48 out of 83 qualifying tackles at left tackle to protect your franchise QB? There’s room for improvement. Especially since Ben Bartch graded out at a 62.1 at LG.
To be clear, I wouldn’t have franchised and extended him. But they did. That’s not what you do right before you move a guy to a less valuable position.
Agreed. They made their bed sadly. But I certainly would not keep Cam at LT to protect Lawrence. Taking Neal or Ekwonu kills two birds with 1 stone by allowing them to shift Cam elsewhere to improve the line in 2 spots.
LG or RT.
I’m with you. It’s just too late to not make these moves we wouldn’t have made. Little is the one I’m most optimistic about of the tackles they already have. But if you’re willing to pay Robinson $18m per year, shouldn’t that tell you that Ekwonu and Neal are high value picks? Worst case scenario, they’ll be as good as Robinson but on rookie deals.
Agreed. They take too many “raw athletes”. So of course, they hone in on another raw athlete this year in Walker. I was really hoping for Neal/Ekwonu/Hutchinson but everything seems to suggest they’re going Walker. I hope he pans out but considering how almost every other raw athlete has been a flop in Jacksonville, I don’t have high hopes.
The bar, at a minimum, has to be either Walker is a stud and/or atleast turns out to be the better pass rusher between him and Hutchinson. Imo anything less and it’s another wasted draft pick that will continue to set them back.
Take the best player, Jacksonville. Not the best athlete, not the best prospect at the position of greatest perceived need… take this best player with the highest ceiling. If that’s Neal or Ekwonu, then do it and figure out your best offensive line in camp, or trade Robinson if there probes to be a surplus. This team simply does not have nearly enough talent at too many positions for them to get cute with this pick.
Oh, and yeah… this extension makes zero sense, he’s not good enough to warrant it.
I predict the Jags take Walker first. I predict the Jags will regret the decision. You don’t need to spend all your resources building an O line though. So tired of hearing guys constantly spewing the same old refrain of ‘ You gotta protect the QB so you have to spend all your top picks doing it.’ Hogwash. There’s other ways of building a good O line. You can make trades….you can sign free agents. You can actually draft guys in the later rounds who can fit your system/scheme. Scout and coach to your system. Maybe your QB wouldn’t be parked on his ass if you played a scheme that fit your personnel better and invested a little money.
Reminds me of the Bucs and Donovan Smith. Very mediocre but gets paid. Goes to show you how desperate teams are to have even average play at LT.