Jacksonville Jaguars: 3 realistic expectations for LT Cam Robinson in 2021

The Jacksonville Jaguars made the curious decision to apply the franchise tag on left tackle Cam Robinson. The Alabama product has been inconsistent throughout his four-year career but the team believes he will take the next step in his development in Year 5.

Robinson has started 47 games for the Jaguars. He missed most of the 2018 season with a torn ACL but has missed just two games the last two years. He has never posted a Pro Football Focus grade higher than 63.4 in his career and ranked 62 among all NFL offensive tackles last season.

Also, Robinson has allowed 13 sacks and 85 pressures over the last two seasons, which is concerning. You could argue that his torn ACL hindered his development. That might’ve been true for the 2019 season but there is no excuse for 2020, as he was two years removed from the injury. By now, he should have become a top 15 left tackle. He still has time to turn the corner, but the fact the Jags haven’t given him a long-term deal shows they are taking a cautionary approach.

Moreover, this Jacksonville team used one of their two second-round selections in this year’s selection meeting on Stanford offensive tackle Walker Little. If Robinson struggles, Jacksonville may opt to go with Little. With the prospect of not losing his job to a rookie and earning a long-term deal, here are three realistic expectations for Robinson in his fifth year in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars believe Cam Robinson can take the next step.

1. Cam Robinson needs to start all 17 games in 2021.

This sounds like the bare minimum but Robinson has started all 16 games in a season once. The 2021 season will be the first one to have 17 games, so entrusting the left tackle not to miss a single matchup may not be as easy as it seems. Also, he will be watching over his shoulder as Little won’t miss the chance to join the starting lineup.

2. The number of sacks and pressures has to go considerably down.

Robinson has a steep hill to climb, but there’s a chance he makes it. Offensive tackles Kolton Miller and Garrett Bolles broke out last year after struggling early in their respective careers. The Jaguars offensive tackle could turn out to be a late bloomer and take a similar step in his fifth year.

For starters, Robinson can’t afford to allow more than four sacks again. He also needs to take his total number of pressures down to 20. While it looks like a tall order, he’s no longer a youngster trying to find his footing in the pros. The Jaguars expect him to be a franchise left tackle and he needs to play like one.

3. A Pro Bowl designation wouldn’t hurt. 

Expecting Robinson to become a First-Team All-Pro offensive tackle may be too much. However, earning a Pro Bowl nod is a realistic goal. Working with offensive line coach George Warhop once again should help the Jags’ left tackle play up to his potential. He has the organization’s vote of confidence. It’s now up to him to become the player the Jacksonville Jaguars believe he is.