Offensive tackle Cam Robinson joined the Minnesota Vikings midway through the 2024 season, and the impending free agent could leave the team after just 10 games. A second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Robinson has never been an elite tackle but has always provided starting-caliber play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now set to test the open market, the Alabama product could earn a sizable raise in the coming months.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, executives around the league believe the eight-year veteran will become one of the highest-paid tackles in the league. Saying that Robinson has “quite possibly played his way above the $20-million-per-year threshold,” the NFL insider called out the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams as two potential destinations while saying the Vikings could also try and retain the veteran. Of course, a return to Jacksonville shouldn’t be out of the question, either.
Vikings Cam Robinson Expected to Earn Massive Contract In Free Agency
New Teams
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the strongest rosters in football, but they have a glaring hole at the left tackle position. After the Donvan Smith experiment failed in 2023, the team entrusted the position to Wanya Morris and second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia in 2024. This plan didn’t work out, as both players struggled to put together competent reps in 2025. Joe Thuney is a fine short-term solution, but Robinson could provide stability at the position while allowing Thuney to return to his natural guard role.
The Rams left tackle plan will likely depend on what happens with impending free agent Alaric Jackson. The former undrafted free agent had a strong season in 2024, finishing the year with a 78.4 PFF grade, the 18th-best mark in the league. By comparison, Robinson had a 63.2 PFF grade. Despite this discrepancy in play, Fowler believes Robinson will earn the larger contract, which is somewhat surprising, seeing as he is also older. However, if the Rams believe Jackson’s performance was a one-year fluke, perhaps they let the homegrown talent walk and steal Cam Robinson from the Vikings.
Reunions
As of this posting, the Minnesota Vikings have the money to re-sign Cam Robinson. Armed with over $58 million in projected cap space, Minnesota can easily retain their left tackle without impacting their ability to rebuild the rest of the roster. However, that $58 million number is somewhat misleading, as it doesn’t account for quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold ended the 2024 season on a low note, but the veteran’s impressive work in relief of first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will earn him a large deal on the open market. Set to reach unrestricted free agency, the Vikings will likely use the franchise tag to keep him around for another season. The franchise tag is projected to carry a $39.6 million cap hit for quarterbacks, so the Vikings probably can’t retain Darnold and Robinson. Depending on how they feel about McCarthy’s future, the team could use the tag to trade Darnold and then re-sign Robinson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t want to trade Cam Robinson to the Vikings, but they had to get something for their impending free agent in a lost season. While General Manager Trent Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson may be gone, Liam Coen must find someone to protect Trevor Lawrence. While Ronnie Stanley will probably be their top target, the team could pivot to a familiar face if the former first-round pick stays with the Ravens.
Main Photo: Jeremy Reper – Imagn Images
