Jaguars OT Cam Robinson deserves widespread respect across the NFL

Pro Football Focus has been releasing lists of the top 32 players at every position group ahead of the 2024 season. Just recently, Zoltàn Buday published the one for offensive tackles, and one Jacksonville Jaguars player made the cut: Cam Robinson. A

While it's great to see the Jags being represented, it feels like Robinson deserved a higher spot. Moreover, the case could be made that offensive tackle is a strength for Jacksonville due to the presence of sophomore Anton Harrison and fourth-year pro Walker Little.

Regarding Robinson, Buday placed him at No. 28 among his peers, pointing out that his PFF pass-blocking grade of 78.8 was a career-best. Even when you leave PFF statistics aside, Mike Lounsberry of Next Gen Stats points out that the Alabama product gave up a pressure rate of 7.5 percent in 2023, good for sixth in the league. Here's what Buday had to say about Robinson.

"Robinson returned from a suspension during the season and boosted the Jaguars' offensive line, especially in terms of pass protection. TheAlabamaproduct’s 78.8 pass-blocking grade marked a career-high and ranked 17th among offensive tackles in the league. Furthermore, he gave up pressure on just 4.6% of plays, also a career-best mark."

And here's Lounsberry's interaction on social media that highlighted Robinson's play last season.

Does Cam Robinson deserve to be ranked higher? You could most certainly make the case. His 97.2 pass-blocking efficiency was 17th among offensive tackles last year.

It's worth noting that some of the lists PFF has posted have been controversial. They'll rank players higher or lower than they deserve, at least in the eyes of fans. Having said that, Budan missed the mark with Robinson. He should've gotten a high spot, as he was arguably the Jaguars' best offensive lineman in 2023.

On the other hand, it's understandable to see Walker Little and Anton Harrison get snubbed even if they're both dependable starts. Neither earned high marks in PFF's system, with Little getting a 58.8 mark and Harrison posting a 54.0 grade.

Only 1 Jaguars OT makes PFF's top 32 but they're stacked at the position

As reliable as Cam Robinson has been the past few years, he was the subject of trade talks in the offseason. One reason was that releasing him or trading him would create over $17 million in cap space. The other is that they have a pair of in-house replacements in Walker Little and Anton Harrison.

Little has filled in for Robinson when he has missed time. He made four starts at left tackle to begin 2023, giving up just one sack and five total pressures. The year prior, he replaced Robinson in the lineup to end the season and started in the playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The offensive line didn't skip the beat.

Currently, Little sits behind Robinson in the depth chart, and it doesn't look like he'll get an extended look unless the Jags move on from Robinson. Perhaps the team's brass isn't fully sold on him but he's most definitely done a good job when needed. But Little isn't the only starting-caliber offensive tackle on the roster.

Anton Harrison lined up at right tackle in his rookie season. However, Jacksonville hasn't ruled out the idea of moving him back to left tackle, the position he played at Oklahoma.

This is to say that it doesn't matter that Cam Robinson doesn't get nearly as much recognition as he deserves. He gives the Jaguars a formidable starter at left tackle, and in case he has to miss time, they have two more replacements ready to step in his place.

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