Cam Robinson

AFC Contract Details: Becton, Bolts, Texans, Jenkins, Browns, Bills, Patriots, Dolphins

March 29th, 2025 at 12:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to around the AFC:

Mekhi Becton, OL (Chargers). Two years, $20MM. Despite raising his value with the Eagles, Becton only fetched $6.94MM guaranteed at signing, Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer tweets. The deal includes $3.06MM of per-game roster bonuses in 2025 and $2.55MM in ’26, with these protecting the Bolts after Becton missed 33 games from 2021-22. Becton is due a $2.5MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, per OverTheCap.
Christian Elliss, LB (Patriots). Two years, $13.51MM. The Pats are guaranteeing Elliss $7.75MM at signing, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin tweets. This Raiders offer sheet includes guarantees into Year 2, with Volin adding $2.25MM of Elliss’ $7.38MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing. Although Las Vegas designed this deal to give New England pause about matching, the team did so and has since released Ja’Whaun Bentley.
Cam Robinson, T (Texans). One year, $12MM. The Texans are guaranteeing Robinson $10.75MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Up to $1.25MM is available via per-game roster bonuses. Houston also included four void years, which would create a $7MM 2026 dead money bill if Robinson is not re-signed before the 2026 league year.
Garrett Bradbury, C (Patriots). Two years, $9.5MM. Bradbury will see $3.8MM guaranteed at signing; $2.4MM of that comes via a signing bonus, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss tweets. Bradbury’s $3.7MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed, giving the Pats an out if the fit proves poor this year.
Mario Edwards, DL (Texans). Two years, $9.5MM. The team is guaranteeing the nomadic D-lineman, $4.5MM, Wilson tweets. Edwards’ $4MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed.
Reid Ferguson, LS (Bills). Four years, $6.5MM. Ferguson’s latest Bills contract sits second (to the Chiefs’ James Winchester) at the NFL’s lowest-paid position. The deal includes $2.37MM guaranteed at signing, which Wilson notes is comprised of a 2025 salary guarantee and a $1.1MM signing bonus.
Zach Wilson, QB (Dolphins). One year, $6MM. The ex-Jets starter still secured a fully guaranteed deal as he attempts to reset after spending the 2024 season as the Broncos’ third-stringer. The Dolphins guaranteed Wilson $6MM, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Wilson only counts $2.2MM on Miami’s 2025 cap, per Jackson, as the team added four void years to keep that number low.
Sheldon Rankins, DT (Texans). One year, $5.25MM. Coming after Rankins underwhelmed on a two-year, $24.5MM Bengals accord, the former first-round pick will see $4.5MM guaranteed, per Wilson. Playing-time incentives worth a total of $1.75MM are also included in Rankins’ second Texans contract.
Teven Jenkins, G (Browns). One year, $3.1MM. The guard market dried up for Jenkins, whose free agency reminds of Dalton Risner‘s recent forays. The three-year Bears starter, who held a high asking price early on the market, settled for a deal including just $2.67MM guaranteed, Wilson adds. Cleveland included up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, S (Dolphins). One year, $3MM. The Dolphins are guaranteeing the ex-Lions defender $2.45MM, Wilson tweets. Another $1MM in incentives is present.
Marcus Epps, S (Patriots). One year, $2.03MM. One of two 2024 Raiders starting defenders heading to New England (along with Robert Spillane), Epps received only $500K guaranteed, Reiss tweets. That includes $350K of Epps’ $1.17MM base salary, which does not make the former Super Bowl LVII starter a roster lock.

Patriots Showed Interest In LT Cam Robinson

March 26th, 2025 at 9:54am CST by Sam Robinson

Using a few options at left tackle last season, the Patriots have not yet filled that post this year. The team did not have a chance to make a true pitch to Alaric Jackson or Ronnie Stanley, as both of whom re-signed with their respective teams (the Rams and Ravens) before the legal tampering period. A pursuit of Dan Moore Jr. also ended with a big-ticket Titans deal.

It would stand to reason the Pats also looked into Cam Robinson, who lingered in free agency for several days. New offensive line coach Doug Marrone was also in position as Jaguars HC when the team drafted Robinson (in the 2017 second round). Marrone’s new team did indeed show interest in Robinson, as ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss indicates the Pats were in that mix.

However, the eight-year left tackle’s market settled with a one-year Texans agreement. Robinson signed with Houston on a one-year deal believed to include $12MM in base value and up to $14.5MM in max value. While Marrone’s presence and the Patriots’ need could have been a draw for Robinson, Reiss adds he preferred the Texans.

Linked to Stanley and Jackson before free agency and having almost definitely upped Moore’s market past $20MM per year, the Patriots certainly could have attempted to outmuscle the Texans for Robinson. They entered free agency with the most cap space and still sit on the NFL’s top number. Not doing so points to the team being fairly confident it can address its need for a blindside starter in the draft.

Our No. 5 overall free agent, Robinson has made 101 career starts. His value stemmed from the Jaguars and Vikings allowing a free agency trek, something that did not come to fruition for peers Dion Dawkins, Taylor Decker and Garett Bolles. Each of those players, coming into the league between the 2016 and ’17 drafts, signed second extensions to stay with their respective teams last year. The Jaguars did not extend Robinson, instead trading their longtime LT to the Vikings — as Christian Darrisaw insurance — and then paying Walker Little. Jacksonville allowing Trent Baalke to extend Little, shaping their LT plan for the future, and then firing him not long after marked a strange sequence. The team still let Robinson go in a pick-swap trade at the 2024 deadline.

A zero-time Pro Bowler, Robinson missed time due to injuries from 2022-23 and served a PED suspension in the latter season. However, he was on the field for 18 games (counting the Vikings’ wild-card cameo) last season. Pro Football Focus ranked the Alabama alum 53rd among tackle regulars last season, though the advanced metrics site viewed him as a slightly better option (between Nos. 44-48) from 2021-23. That came after a four-season stretch in which Marrone coached him in Jacksonville. Not wowing in terms of pass block win rate in 2024, either, Robinson will have a chance to set a new market in 2026 — barring a Texans extension.

The Pats would have the option to draft LSU’s Will Campbell at No. 4 overall, but the high-end prospect does not quite check in on the level Joe Alt did to top last year’s tackle contingent. Campbell’s arm measurement at the Combine (32 5/8 inches) also generated concern about his tackle viability in the pros.

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah also ranks Missouri’s Armand Membou 11th on his latest big board, but if the Pats have Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter available at No. 4, they likely table their tackle need to Round 2 and beyond. The team adding Stefon Diggs on Tuesday lessens the need to add a receiver in the first two rounds as well. Membou, however, came up as a player drawing Pats interest recently.

Still rostering Vederian Lowe, 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace and waiver claim Demontrey Jacobs at tackle, the Pats have Morgan Moses ready to be a right tackle stopgap. Likely Hall of Famer Tyron Smith remains available, as does former Browns first-rounder Jedrick Wills. It would not surprise to see the Patriots linked to either as insurance, but after no Robinson-Marrone reunion took place, the team is still on the hunt to find a long-term answer at this high-profile spot.

Texans To Sign T Cam Robinson

March 19th, 2025 at 10:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

A week after trading Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders, the Texans are bringing in a hired gun at left tackle. Cam Robinson is heading to Houston, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets.

While rumored to be planning to shift Tytus Howard to left tackle, the Texans now appear more likely to keep the versatile lineman at either right tackle or move him back to guard once again. Robinson is signing a one-year deal, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds. It is believed the former Jaguars and Vikings LT will sign for at least $12MM. Unspecified escalators could vault the value to $14.5MM, per Russini.

PFR’s No. 5 overall free agent, Robinson may well have commanded solid multiyear offers. But the experienced tackle will bet on raising his value ahead of 2026’s free agency. The Texans will first see how he fares in Tunsil’s place, adding the eight-year starter on a higher-end one-year agreement that will give them exclusive negotiating rights until next March.

Robinson had seen third contracts handed out to Dion Dawkins, Taylor Decker and Garett Bolles last year. Not quite on that level, Robinson still commanded two franchise tags in Jacksonville. Instead of paying Robinson once again, the Jaguars traded him to the Vikings, who needed a Christian Darrisaw replacement. With Darrisaw due back, Minnesota let Robinson walk. He will join a remodeled Houston O-line.

The Texans traded Tunsil and Kenyon Green and cut Shaq Mason. They have added Laken Tomlinson as a guard starter, and it is worth wondering if Howard will now be moving back inside. The team drafted Blake Fisher in last year’s second round. Unless Houston is keen on letting the Notre Dame alum being a swingman in his second season, a configuration in which Howard slides back to guard to accommodate Fisher makes sense. Robinson, however, now becomes the top blocking piece as the Texans attempt to move C.J. Stroud back on track.

A Howard move back inside would pit Juice Scruggs against Jarrett Patterson for one spot — center. The Texans also acquired Ed Ingram as a potential guard starter. If nothing else, Houston is loading up on potential starting options after back-to-back seasons involving heavy injury trouble along their O-line. Tunsil stayed mostly healthy during this stretch, but he is now in Washington after it became clear he was not at the front of the line for another extension.

Robinson, 29, played out a three-year, $52.75MM extension signed while on his second Jags tag. He worked as Trevor Lawrence‘s primary blindside option (and Gardner Minshew‘s before that). The former Alabama-developed second-rounder has started all 101 games he has played. Pro Football Focus slotted Robinson outside the top 50 among tackles last season, and his 88.2% pass block win rate was not especially impressive. This could have led to some hesitancy on the market. At the same time, less proven options like Alaric Jackson, Jaylon Moore and Dan Moore Jr. scored multiyear deals. Robinson is still doing well on a one-year pact, but this free agency did not exactly play out as expected.

PFF placed Robinson between Nos. 40-50 from 2021-23, and a pattern of unavailability emerged in that span. After stabilizing his career following a 2018 ACL tear, Robinson suffered a torn meniscus late in the 2022 season. He was then suspended for a positive PED test in 2023, and another injury — a knee issue — shelved Robinson during the ’23 campaign. He put some durability doubts to rest last season by logging 17 starts with Jacksonville and Minnesota, but “prove it” vibes are still circulating here ahead of an age-30 season.

As the Chiefs and Titans roll the dice on less proven (but younger) Moores, the Patriots looked into Robinson. New England still needs a left tackle, adding only Morgan Moses (to be their RT). Ex-Jags HC Doug Marrone being in place as the Pats’ O-line coach and the team passing is rather telling.

Robinson will be entrusted to replace a Pro Bowler. The eight-year veteran will come much cheaper than Tunsil, who is on a $25MM-per-year contract. The Texans will go cheaper on their O-line this season, despite Stroud still having a year of rookie-deal control left, as Mason is also off the books. Robinson and Tomlinson will be expected to provide veteran stability in 2025.

To create some cap room ahead of this signing, the Texans also restructured Howard’s contract. By moving most of Howard’s 2025 salary into a signing bonus (per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson), Houston created $11.6MM in cap space. Two seasons still remain on Howard’s contract. Three void years are present in the deal, which now includes a 2026 cap hit beyond $27MM.

Patriots Targeting Ronnie Stanley, Jamien Sherwood; Team Has “Kicked Tires” On D.K. Metcalf

March 2nd, 2025 at 8:47am CST by Rory Parks

The Patriots are known to be targeting additions to the offensive and defensive lines this offseason, and new head coach Mike Vrabel has indicated his club will be active in free agency (after all, New England does have nearly $130MM in cap space, the most in the league by a comfortable margin). To that end, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports the Pats will aggressively pursue Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley should Stanley hit the open market.

Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald also hear that Stanley is one of New England’s top targets. Offensive line play was a major issue for the team in 2024, as the Pats finished 31st in Pro Football Focus’ metrics with respect to pass protection and last in run blocking. Stanley had struggled with injuries in recent years, and even when he was on the field, he did not look like the same player that earned a First Team All-Pro nod in 2019. After being forced to accept a $7.5MM pay cut in advance of the 2024 season, Stanley turned in a terrific platform campaign, landing his second Pro Bowl bid and playing a full complement of games for the first time in his career.

Naturally, the Ravens want Stanley back and have prioritized a new contract for him. However, the franchise tag is not considered as an option because of how it would hinder a team that is just outside the bottom-10 in cap room and because the $23.4MM tag number for O-linemen would set the floor in negotiations above where Baltimore is willing to go. New England reportedly values Stanley’s leadership and experience in big games in addition to his raw ability, and if Stanley and the Ravens cannot come to terms before the onset of free agency, Vrabel & Co. appear ready to pounce.

If their Stanley pursuit is unsuccessful, Callahan and Kyed say the Patriots are nonetheless comfortable with the Steelers’ Dan Moore or the Vikings’ Cam Robinson – a New England trade target at the 2024 deadline – as fallback plans (the team also had interest in the Rams’ Alaric Jackson before he re-upped with Los Angeles). And, even if they are able to acquire an established OT, the Pats will presumably not be done in their search for better protection for QB Drake Maye and their rushing attack

LSU OT Will Campbell is a real possibility for the Patriots’ No. 4 overall selection in April’s draft, with league evaluators seeing Campbell or Michigan DT Mason Graham as the most likely candidates for the pick. If QB-needy teams select both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders before New England is on the clock, though, the Pats will have the opportunity to take one of the top non-QBs in the 2025 class (Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter).

Of that duo, Hunter is viewed as the more likely to fall to No. 4. As opposed to Carter, Hunter would not address the Pats’ top goal of bolstering their trenches, but beyond OL and DL help, the Boston Herald sees cornerback, wide receiver, and linebacker as the next positions of priority. Regardless of whether New England sees Hunter as a CB or wideout, the two-way blue-chipper would be a major get.

With respect to the linebacker need, the Patriots reportedly “covet” Jets LB Jamien Sherwood, particularly since he exhibits the speed and physicality that Vrabel is hoping to inject into his front seven. The 2021 fifth-rounder was mostly quiet through his first three professional seasons before bursting onto the scene in a big way in his walk year, starting 16 of New York’s 17 games while tallying 158 total tackles – including a league-leading 98 solo stops – and 10 tackles for loss while finishing as PFF’s 18th-best LB. The Jets and Sherwood have mutual interest in an extension, though it appears the Pats are eyeing the situation closely.

As for the WR position, there were several reports connecting the Patriots to Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason. Those reports were published before it became clear Cincinnati was prepared to put the franchise tag on Higgins for a second time. While a tag presumably remains a possibility, Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) reports the team has not told Higgins whether he will actually receive the tag before Tuesday’s deadline.

Nonetheless, sources tell Callahan and Kyed that Higgins will not be available (either as an FA or as a trade candidate). Should the Bengals change their mind on that front, the Patriots would be back in the mix, despite some conflicting reports to the contrary.

It has been said that the Patriots would explore trades for a WR, though the Boston Herald believes the team would prefer to address their need for a proven pass-catcher through free agency to avoid surrendering premium draft capital. The Bucs’ Chris Godwin would be a top target if Tampa Bay allows him to test the free agent waters, and on the trade front, the Pats have reportedly “kicked the tires” on the Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf. It is presently unclear if those discussions gained any traction.

Given New England’s areas of need, it is not surprising that Callahan and Kyed – whose piece is well-worth a read for Pats fans in particular given its scope and comprehensiveness – name Eagles DT Milton Williams and 49ers CB Charvarius Ward as several of New England’s other top FA targets.

Patriots Eyeing OL Help; Latest On K.J. Osborn

November 2nd, 2024 at 10:18am CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots’ chances of making the playoffs are slim to none. However, that won’t stop the front office from seeking some reinforcement ahead of the trade deadline. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots are on the lookout for some offensive line help.

Specifically, New England’s front office looked into acquiring Cam Robinson before the veteran was dealt from the Jaguars to the Vikings. The team has also reached out to free agent OL D.J. Humphries, who took a visit with the Giants last week. The Patriots probably won’t overspend on a veteran stopgap, but the team is at least looking at options that can help keep their quarterback(s) upright.

The Patriots offensive line has been responsible for allowing 27 sacks this season, the third-highest total in the NFL. While veteran seat warmer Jacoby Brissett presumably knew he’d take his fair share of hits in 2024, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Patriots are a bit more wary of their OL woes with Drake Maye guiding the offense. The third-overall pick suffered a concussion last weekend (on a scramble play), and considering the team’s investment in the QB, they’ll surely do everything in their power to keep him healthy moving forward.

While the Patriots didn’t do a whole lot to improve their offensive line this past offseason, the team also hasn’t received a whole lot of luck on the health front. New England has already turned to 11 different OL starters this season, and the different line combinations have naturally led to inconsistent play from the unit. Mike Onwenu is the only lineman who’s received a plus-grade from Pro Football Focus, so a lack of health can’t be entirely to blame for the team’s struggles.

Elsewhere in New England, Fowler says wideout K.J. Osborn is the Patriots player he’s watching closest as we approach the trade deadline. There’s been rumblings that the offseason acquisition already wants out of New England, and the veteran was recently demoted to the team’s WR4 or WR5 role following the return of Kendrick Bourne. In six games this season, Osborn has been limited to seven catches.

If the Patriots are unable to find any takers in a trade, the club may simply release Osborn, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Osborn has reportedly been a consummate professional even as his workload has decreased, and rather than have him languish on the sidelines as they seek to get a look at their younger talent, the Pats may be willing to do him a favor and let him catch on elsewhere.

Jaguars Trade LT Cam Robinson To Vikings

October 30th, 2024 at 4:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 30: As expected, the Jaguars will pick up much of Robinson’s tab. They are paying just more than $7MM of Robinson’s remaining 2024 base salary, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. This leaves the Vikings with around $2MM of the left tackle’s salary, along with $59K per game in roster bonuses.

OCTOBER 29: For a second straight year, the Jaguars and Vikings have a deal in place involving an offensive lineman at the trade deadline. Cam Robinson is set to replace Christian Darrisaw.

The Vikings will act swiftly, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting they are acquiring the longtime Jaguars left tackle in exchange for unspecified draft compensation. This comes a year after the Jags acquired Ezra Cleveland from the Vikings. Here are the terms of the trade:

Vikings receive:

Robinson
Conditional 2026 seventh-round pick

Jaguars receive:

Conditional 2026 fifth-round pick

The 2026 fifth can upgrade to a fourth for the Jaguars based on playing time, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling. The conditional seventh the Vikings are receiving can be removed from the trade based on playing time as well, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds.

This will wrap an eight-season run for Robinson in Jacksonville. The former second-round pick, however, is in a contract year and is not a candidate to be franchise-tagged. Like Kirk Cousins, Robinson was a two-time tag recipient and is on track for free agency. This trade sets up Robinson as a clear rental, with Darrisaw expected to reclaim his blindside post in 2025. In the short term, though, the 5-2 Vikings will prepare to have Robinson protecting Sam Darnold‘s blind side.

It is not exactly common for a starting left tackle to be available at the deadline, and Doug Pederson had thrown cold water on more seller’s trades — following the Jags’ agreement to send Roy Robertson-Harris to the Seahawks — taking place. But the Jags have dropped to 2-6 and lost Christian Kirk for the season during their most recent defeat. Jacksonville also has some LT insurance in Walker Little, who is also in a contract year.

Tuesday’s agreement certainly signals the Vikings believe they have a contending team, despite their back-to-back losses, as they just extended Darrisaw at a top-market rate. Darrisaw signed a four-year, $104MM deal to stay in Minnesota long term, but he will not reenter the Vikes’ on-field equation until next season. The fourth-year blocker went down with an unspecified knee injury — one that will require season-ending surgery — in Week 8. The Vikings losing their top O-lineman already played a role in one loss, and the team will take advantage of Darrisaw’s injury occurring before the trade deadline.

Robinson, 29, had been the Jags’ LT starter since his rookie season. He is attached to a three-year, $52.75MM extension — agreed to during his second offseason on the franchise tag. No restructures have taken place on this contract, keeping Robinson’s 2024 base salary at $16.25MM. While roughly $9MM remains on that deal, the Jaguars are probably picking up some of the eighth-year blocker’s tab. The Vikings entered Tuesday with $9.5MM in cap space.

Robinson has made 91 career starts, including seven of the Jags’ eight games this season. Pro Football Focus has the Alabama alum rated 32nd among tackles this season; Darrisaw stood 10th before his injury. While Robinson does not have a Pro Bowl on his resume and is not regarded quite on Darrisaw’s level, he had done enough to be tagged twice and earn an upper-crust extension. Though, Darrisaw’s payday helped drop Robinson down that position list. Robinson entered this season as the NFL’s 10th-highest-paid LT.

The Jags have now separated from both Robinson and four-year RT starter Jawaan Taylor in two years. Jacksonville opted to tag Evan Engram over Taylor in 2023, letting him walk toward a mammoth Chiefs deal — one that has not panned out. The Jags drafted Anton Harrison in the 2023 first round and have been playing him at right tackle. It will be interesting to see how the sudden sellers proceed at this position moving forward, as Urban Meyer-era draftee Little is playing out his second-round contract. But Little, who has 18 career starts (most of them replacing an injured or suspended Robinson), will have a chance to boost his free agency value during this season’s second half.

Robinson missed a chunk of the Jags’ run to the 2022 divisional round, having suffered a meniscus tear, and received a four-game PED suspension last summer. Robinson also sustained another knee injury, one that led him to IR for a stint, last season. The recent injuries bring risk for the Vikings, but as quality LTs are not exactly flooding the trade market, Minnesota will roll the dice on Robinson staying healthy.

It cost the Jags only a sixth-round pick to acquire Cleveland, as they resided as buyers at the 2023 deadline. Jacksonville then re-signed Cleveland before the legal tampering period. Robinson will be on track to hit the market for the first time. He will need to excel in a new scheme to solidify his place as one of the 2025 FA market’s top options. Before that, the veteran will aim to help the Vikings in a loaded NFC North.

Jaguars Activate LB Foyesade Oluokun

October 26th, 2024 at 2:12pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jaguars have officially activated linebacker Foye Oluokun after opening his 21-day practice window four days ago. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Oluokun and offensive tackle Cam Robinson will both be returning from their respective absences this weekend.

Jacksonville signed Oluokun the year after he led the NFL with a career high 192 total tackles in 2021 with the Falcons. In his first year with the Jaguars, Oluokun doubled down as the league-leader in total tackles for a second straight year with 184, also leading the league with 128 solo tackles. His 173 total tackles in 2023 was only good for fourth in the NFL, but he once again finished with the most solo tackles with 111.

While Oluokun became a tackling machine in Atlanta, he didn’t begin to stand out analytically until his move over the Florida-Georgia line. Following a season in which Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the 64th-best linebacker out of 86 graded players at the position, Oluokun improved to 29th in 2022 and 21st in 2023. Though he only has three games under his belt this season, Oluokun currently grades as the 10th-best linebacker in the NFL, per PFF.

Oluokun has been on injured reserve the last four games as he’s dealt with plantar fasciitis. Since Oluokun’s stint on IR took place after the season began, he will count toward’s the team’s remaining activation count. Jacksonville has four activations left with Oluokun getting moved to the active roster. The team will hope his return helps spark improvement on defense, a unit which has struggled in a number of areas in 2024.

Robinson had been limited in practice this week after getting knocked out of last week’s victory over the Patriots with a concussion. Garafolo reports that Robinson has now cleared concussion protocol and does not have an injury designation heading into the weekend.

Additionally, the team announced this afternoon that running back Jake Funk and defensive end Joe Gaziano will be activated as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the second straight week.

Jags In Talks With Calvin Ridley, Josh Allen

February 28th, 2024 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trent Baalke said in January the Jaguars will have Josh Allen back on their 2024 team, pointing to a franchise tag as a mortal lock. The team is not closing up shop on reaching an extension with its top edge rusher just yet.

Stopping short of confirming the Jags will tag Allen, Baalke said the sides remain in talks. Given Allen’s contract-year surge that ended with a 17.5-sack season — a Jags single-year record — this might be a tricky negotiation that requires more time. The 2019 first-round pick had not previously eclipsed 10.5 sacks in a season. Allen is set to turn 27 in July.

The tag will allow the Jags until July 15 to reach a deal. They have used the tag each year in the 2020s, cuffing Yannick Ngakoue, Cam Robinson and Evan Engram. The team extended Robinson and Engram, after trading Ngakoue.

While Allen’s place on the 2024 Jags appears a near-certainty, Calvin Ridley is tied to unique contract conditions that complicate his future in Jacksonville. Already sending a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Falcons, the Jaguars would owe them an additional 2024 third if they were to let Ridley hit the market. If Ridley re-signs once there or departs, Jacksonville owes Atlanta its 2024 third. If the team views the wideout as a true priority and reaches what is technically an extension — a deal before the 2024 league year begins March 13 — the Jags would owe a second-rounder instead of a third.

It would seem the Jags would be better served by waiting out Ridley and protecting their second-rounder, but the team wants to retain the former first-round pick — regardless of how that comes to pass. Baalke and Ridley met one-on-one recently, and the team is set to talk with the veteran pass catcher’s camp at the Combine.

“We’re not real concerned with that, whether it’s a second or third round,” Baalke said of the second pick to be conveyed in the Falcons trade. “We’re just going to work with the player and see if we can come to an agreement. Whether that’s before the compensation changes or not, that remains to be seen. We’re more focused on the player.

“I had a great talk with Calvin, know exactly where he’s at and and he knows where we’re at.”

Thanks to the end-of-season collapse that left the Jaguars out of the playoffs, their second-round pick checks in 48th. Their third-rounder sits 79th. Barring a Ridley extension before 3pm CT on March 13, that pick will transfer to the Falcons. The Jags have a little more than $24MM in cap space; an Allen tag would account for all of that, as the cap spike moved the linebacker tag to $24MM.

If Ridley were to hit the market, however, the Jags will have likely intense competition. If the Colts follow through with a Michael Pittman Jr. tag, the absences of he and Tee Higgins on the market would boost Ridley’s value.

Do not look for the team to consider Cam Robinson‘s contract as one to move to create space. Baalke expects the team’s 2021 and ’22 franchise tag recipient to be back with the team. The longtime Jags left tackle is due a $16.25MM base salary and is set to carry a $21.19MM cap number. Another extension would reduce that cap charge, though it is unclear if that is the cards just yet for the 2017 second-round pick.

Robinson signed a three-year, $52.75MM extension in April 2022. Although the Dave Caldwell regime drafted Robinson and he was first tagged during Urban Meyer‘s offseason in charge, Baalke was at the helm when the Jags finalized the extension. Pro Football Focus graded Robinson, who missed much of last season due to a PED ban and a subsequent knee injury, 46th overall among tackles.

Jaguars Activate OT Cam Robinson From IR

December 30th, 2023 at 12:45pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars won’t have Trevor Lawrence under center against the Panthers tomorrow, but the team will welcome back their star offensive lineman. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Jaguars are activating left tackle Cam Robinson from injured reserve. In a corresponding move, the Jaguars have waived lineman Chandler Brewer (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston).

After landing on injured reserve in November thanks to a knee injury, Robinson returned to Jaguars practice earlier this week. That opened the veteran’s 21-day activation window, and despite receiving an initial recovery timeline of up to six weeks, the Jaguars were confident in adding him to the active roster when first eligible.

The former second-round pick has spent his entire career in Jacksonville, starting all 82 of his regular-season appearances. Robinson missed the first four games of this season while serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, but he started each of the next seven games for Jacksonville. Pro Football Focus only has Robinson ranked 48th among 84 qualifying offensive tackles this season, but he is graded 12th at the position for pass blocking.

The Jaguars offensive line has struggled mightily this season, allowing 154 pressures…only 10 of which have been attributed to Robinson. While Lawrence won’t immediately benefit from the lineman’s return, there’s hope that the franchise QB will be back in the lineup for the regular-season finale.

Brewer spent most of this season on Jacksonville’s practice squad. He got into only one game following his November promotion, playing exclusively on special teams. The former UDFA spent the first few seasons of his career with the Rams, starting four of his 13 appearances.

Jaguars Open LT Cam Robinson’s Practice Window

December 27th, 2023 at 3:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Looking to rebound in the closing weeks of the season, the Jaguars could soon receive a boost along the offensive line. The team announced on Wednesday that left tackle Cam Robinson has been designated for return.

As a result of the move, the veteran’s 21-day practice window is now open. He must be activated within that span to avoid reverting to season-ending injured reserve. Robinson was placed on IR last month due to a knee injury, guaranteeing a four-week absence. The fact he has returned to practice when first eligible is an encouraging sign for his Week 17 availability.

Robinson has remained a full-time presence on the blindside in 2023, his seventh season in Jacksonville. The 28-year-old faced a reported recovery timeline of three to six weeks in the aftermath of being injured, so managing to suit up for the final two games of the Jags’ season would represent a positive with respect to his rehab process. In need of consistency on offense, the team could stand to return to health up front.

Once seen as a lock to win the AFC South, the Jaguars now find themselves in a three-way tie atop the division. That is due in large part to a four-game losing streak in Robinson’s absence, during which quarterback Trevor Lawrence has dealt with a number of injuries. The latter is now saddled with an AC joint sprain, and his availability for Sunday’s game against the Panthers is in question as a result. Having a healthy Robinson protecting whichever Jacksonville quarterback suits up would be a welcomed sign.

Attached to a three-year, $52.75MM deal, Robinson has delivered a level of play similar to his previous seasons when on the field this year. The Alabama product has earned an overall PFF grade of 63.5, which is in line with his career averages. He has, though, drawn a personal best 79.6 mark in pass protection. Both of those figures are higher than those produced by Walker Little, who has stepped in for Robinson during his absence.

Set to play the Panthers and Titans to close out the campaign, the Jaguars remain in contention for both the top spot in the division and a wild-card berth. Improved play on offense will be crucial to a securing a postseason position of any kind, and Robinson will look to help in that regard when he suits up. The Jaguars have four IR activations remaining.

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