Jaguars roster: Would you call left tackle Cam Robinson overrated?

The Jacksonville Jaguars spent the offseason making upgrades to most positional groups. However, they barely touched the offensive line and brought back all their starters from 2020, including left tackle Cam Robinson, who got slapped with the franchise tag. The move comes with pros and cons but the 2017 second-round selection recently made an unflattering list.

James Fragoza of Pro Football Network recently drew up a list of the most overrated players on every NFL team and Robinson was the pick for the Jags. Fragoza says that either the Alabama product or right tackle Jawaan Taylor could’ve made the cut. He thinks that Jacksonville would have been better off taking an offensive tackle instead of running back Travis Etienne with the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft.

Fragoza points out that Robinson has given up 11 sacks over the last two years and only Taylor allowed more than him in 2020. He goes on to say that the Jaguars left tackle has logged more than 30 blown blocks and committed more than five penalties every year outside of 2018, when a torn ACL limited him to two games.

Now, the Jags did draft an offensive tackle this year. It’s just that they waited until the second round. Moreover, you will be hard-pressed to find someone outside of Jacksonville that thinks Robinson is an elite player. He’s certainly shined at times but he’s never been near the upper echelon of left tackles. At best he’s average, so he doesn’t necessarily fit the ‘overrated’ label.

The Jacksonville Jaguars expect Cam Robinson to have a breakout season.

There are a couple of ways to look at the Jags’ decision to apply the franchise tag on Robinson. On one hand, they show they trust him. They believe this could be the year he finally joins the upper echelon of NFL left tackles. Nevertheless, not giving him a multi-year deal shows that they are aware he could also fail to fulfill expectations.

Keep in mind that using the tag on Robinson wasn’t universally popular. He’s been inconsistent throughout his four-year career and has never earned a Pro Football Focus overall grade higher than 63.4. Jaguars offensive line coach George Warhop says that the left tackle and Taylor have made strides this offseason but he also mentioned that they both still need to find consistency, especially in pass protection.

Also, the Jags used a second-round pick in 2021’s selection meeting on offensive tackle Walker Little. Warhop describes the Stanford product as prepared or more prepared than any first or second-round pick he’s ever coached. Furthermore, the offensive line coach praised Little for his flexibility and toughness. He could join the starting lineup if Robinson (or Taylor) struggles this upcoming season.

Robinson’s seat isn’t necessarily hot but it isn’t cold either. He needs to show he is the long-term answer at left tackle. If he does, the Jaguars won’t mind throwing bags of money at him next offseason. On the other hand, they could let him walk in free agency and promote Walker if he doesn’t play the way the team’s brass envisions.