The Jacksonville Jaguars saw enough of Keilan Robinson to conclude that he wasn't a fit moving forward, so they released him around the time Organized Team Activities ended. Surprisingly, it didn't take him long to find a team, as the Philadelphia Eagles claimed him not long after getting waived. This begs the question: Did the Jags drop the ball when they cut ties with the sophomore running back?
Philly announced that it claimed Robinson days after he was released. He joins a group of running backs that includes Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley, and A.J. Dillon. The former Jaguar won't be leaping any of them any time soon, but could carve a niche on special teams, an area in which he excelled in college.
Britain Covey held return duties for the Eagles the past three years but signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason. Shipley could fill his shoes, but Philadelphia may want to limit his usage on special teams if he gets a significant workload on offense. That could pave the way for Robinson to seize a roster spot.
For the time being, running back ShaunDerrick Powell, undrafted wide receiver Giles Jackson, and wide receiver Danny Gray returned kicks during OTAs. Robinson could most definitely join the competition.
Did the Jaguars make a mistake when they released Keilan Robinson?
A fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft, Robinson suffered a toe injury in training camp that forced him to miss significant time. He would eventually suit up for six games but didn't get a single carry and only returned two kicks. The Washington, D.C. native became a victim of the numbers game when the front office drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen this past April.
But even if Robinson had stuck around, he would've had trouble making the team, with Tuten, Allen, Tank Bigsby, and Travis Etienne in the mix. Similarly, he might not have earned a roster spot as a returner. Parker Washington is trending toward being Jacksonville's top returner next season, and Bigsby could also get a look.
This is a long-winded way to say that there was no room for Robinson in Duval, but that doesn't mean he's a bad player. He simply might not have been a fit with the Jaguars, but could end up helping the Eagles. And that's the thing, not all draft picks pan out with their original team, but they eventually hit their stride once they land in the right situation. That could be Robinson's case in Philadelphia.