Cam Robinson - Pro Football Rumors

Draft Rumors: Panthers, QBs, Broncos

March 24th, 2017 at 8:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier today, the Panthers extended Jonathan Stewart through 2018, what would be an 11th year in Charlotte for the running back. However, this transaction won’t preclude the team from drafting a running back high next month, GM Dave Gettleman said (via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, on Twitter). Viewed as a landing spot for Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook at No. 8, Carolina won’t use Stewart’s latest agreement as a reason to avoid the position in Round 1. While the Panthers have some other needs, Stewart turned 30 this week and hasn’t played 16 games in a regular season since 2011. Taken at No. 13 in 2008, Stewart represents the most recent Panthers Round 1 running back investment.

Here’s more from this draft class.

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is working out with the Chargers on Friday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Kizer already worked for the Jets and Browns, Rapoport adds. “(Kizer) makes some throws that Trubisky and Watson cannot make,” ESPN.com’s Todd McShay said during the Notre Dame passer’s pro day (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com). “But Kizer also misses a lot of throws that typically you wouldn’t see from (Mitchell) Trubisky or (Deshaun) Watson. I think probably he has the strongest arm. He has the biggest upside of all of these quarterbacks.” Potentially ready to tab a successor to Philip Rivers, the Bolts have been linked to Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes as well.
Speaking of Mahomes, the rising Texas Tech quarterback had dinner with Bears brass recently, Rapoport tweets. Both Kizer and Mahomes also worked out for the Browns recently. While not a likely candidate for Chicago’s No. 3 pick, Mahomes could be in range when the Bears’ second-round selection comes up at No. 35.
Michigan edge defender Taco Charlton has visits lined up with the Buccaneers, Cowboys, Dolphins and Saints, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports. Registering 9.5 sacks during a season in which he played with a high ankle sprain, Charlton believes he’s a top-15 player. He met Thursday night with the Steelers, Ravens, Titans and Saints. There’s definitely one team that appears to be interested here, if the overlap is any indication.
If pass-rusher serves as a glaring Saints need, the Broncos have one at left tackle. Alabama’s Cam Robinson will visit as a potential candidate to fill that spot, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post tweets. The Broncos did not pick up Russell Okung‘s option and signed Menelik Watson likely to serve as their right tackle. Although they restructured Donald Stephenson‘s contract, the team might not view the 2016 UFA signing as a left tackle starter after he struggled on the right side last season. They have not selected a tackle in first round since Ryan Clady in 2008.

Zach Links contributed to this report.

Draft Notes: QBs, Browns, Alabama

January 13th, 2017 at 6:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Thanks in part to his heroics this past Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, outgoing Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s draft stock is soaring, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. After Watson completed 36 of 56 passes for 420 yards and four touchdowns (one rushing) in Clemson’s 35-31 win over Alabama, two NFL personnel directors and one general manager informed Schefter that the 21-year-old will go in the top half of the first round this spring. All regard Watson as a soon-to-be top 10 pick, and it’s possible he’ll go to the Browns at No. 1 overall.

“He struggled some in midseason, so everyone got off him,” said a personnel director. “But these last couple of weeks, he’s skyrocketing up to the top 10 picks, with the two playoff game wins. Now people are going to say, ‘Wait a minutes, he’s played Alabama the past couple of years really well, he won a national championship, he can be a Mariota, he can be a [Dak] Prescott, great character, great kid.’ People will not want to miss him. I think he’s definitely going in the top 10.”

A bit more on Cleveland and the draft:

While the Browns also own the 12th pick in the draft, odds are they’ll have to take a quarterback at No. 1 – be it Watson, North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky or Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer – if they like him enough, several draft experts and talent evaluators told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “A lot of teams need quarterbacks and they will overvalue them and reach,” an NFL personnel executive said. In assessing the three signal-callers, a talent evaluator opined, “[Watson] was very impressive in that game and has a special skill set. Accuracy is always a concern. His body of work makes him safer than Trubisky, but Trubisky has a big upside. Kizer is solid, but I don’t think he’s ready to play right away. Watson appears to be the only one who could hold his own right now.” The Browns reportedly “love” Trubisky, but taking him, Watson or Kizer would mean passing on Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett – with whom they’re also smitten.
Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson, wide receiver ArDarius Stewart and cornerback Marlon Humphrey each declared for the draft Friday. CBS Sports ranks Robinson as the 12th-best player in this year’s class and the top tackle in a weak crop. Humphrey isn’t far behind (No. 15), while the outlet projects Stewart to go in the second round.
Another Alabama product, edge rusher Tim Williams, is likely to slip out of the first round because of Randy Gregory-esque issues with substances (marijuana, to be exact), according to Charlie Champbell of WalterFootball.com. Like Gregory, whom the NFL handed a one-year suspension earlier this month (already the third ban of his two-year career), Williams has several failed drug tests to his name. Williams picked up 18.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss during his final two years at Alabama, but similarly excellent college production wasn’t enough for Gregory (16.5 sacks, 26.5 TFL) to go in Round 1 in 2015. It seems Williams’ case will be a repeat this year.

Alabama’s Cam Robinson Won’t Face Charges

June 20th, 2016 at 12:44pm CST by Zachary Links

One of the country’s top NFL Draft prospects received some huge news today. Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson was previously facing a felony weapons charge after being arrested in May, but the district attorney in Monroe, Louisiana has decided not to pursue prosecution, Michael Casagrande of AL.com writes.

Police arrested Robinson and Alabama defensive back Laurence “Hootie” Jones for the illegal possession of stolen firearms, a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance, and an additional charge of carrying a weapon in the presence of illegal narcotics. According to the police report, there was a bag of marijuana and a handgun in plain sight in addition to a stolen handgun found under the passenger seat.

The 6-foot-6, 327 pound rising junior is universally considered to be one of the ten best talents eligible for the 2017 draft. Today’s development is good news for Robinson’s draft stock, though he will certainly face questions from concerned NFL teams. Robinson’s performance on the field and behavior off the field will be critical for his future prospects. If Robinson can demonstrate that his May arrest was a one-off error in judgement – and that he doesn’t have a predilection for carrying illegal firearms – he could very well keep his status as a top 10 pick.

One of two returning starters for the Tide last season, Robinson has blocked for second-round pick T.J. Yeldon and Heisman winner Derrick Henry, helping guide those respective ball-carriers to 17 100-yard rushing performances over the last two seasons. Jones, meanwhile, is not a starter, but he does hold some NFL potential.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Projected First-Rounder Cam Robinson Faces Felony Charge

May 17th, 2016 at 11:38am CST by Sam Robinson

Alabama starting left tackle Cam Robinson has encountered a potentially significant obstacle in his path toward first-round draft status next year. A two-year starter on the left side of the Crimson Tide’s line, Robinson faces a felony weapons charge after being arrested in his hometown of Monroe, La., early Tuesday morning.

Police arrested Robinson and Alabama defensive back Laurence Jones on the felony charge of illegal possession of stolen firearms, a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance and an additional charge of carrying a weapon in the presence of illegal narcotics, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reports.

Robinson and Jones, a passenger in the vehicle Robinson was driving, remain in custody. The police report describes a bag of marijuana and a handgun resided in plain sight, with a stolen handgun found under the passenger seat, ESPN.com’s Alex Scarborough reports.

This could be a big blow to not only Robinson’s draft stock, but also to his standing on the defending national champions. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound junior-to-be ranks as Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 7 overall prospect for the 2017 draft despite not set to turn 21 until October. Pro Football Focus tabs Robinson going off the board at No. 14.

One of two returning starters for the Tide last season, Robinson has blocked for second-round pick T.J. Yeldon and Heisman winner — and subsequent second-rounder — Derrick Henry, helping guide those respective ball-carriers to 17 100-yard rushing performances in 2014-15.

Jones is not a starter but is someone who could be an NFL option down the line, per Smith. He’s facing the same misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance charge, along with the carrying a weapon in possession of illegal narcotics charge, but doesn’t have a potential felony charge in his path like Robinson.