Overview
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 320 pounds
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Cam Robinson 2017 NFL Draft Profile
A distinguishing hallmark of Alabama’s dynastic reign over college football during the Nick Saban era has been dominance at the line of scrimmage on offense. And many of those players have gone on to get their names called on day one of the draft. Since 2008, five Crimson Tide offensive linemen have been taken in the first round. Cam Robinson will almost certainly join them this year.
Robinson is another example of a highly touted high school recruit living up to the hype. The West Monroe, LA native came to Tuscaloosa rated as Rivals’ top tackle prospect. He made an immediate impact, earning freshman all-American honors in his first season with the Tide. A year later, he saved his best performance for last. In Bama’s win over Clemson in the national title game, Robinson didn’t allow a sack and committed no penalties.
Though his team fell short in their rematch with the Tigers in January, Robinson continued to impress. He completely shut down prized edge rushing prospect Myles Garrett when Alabama played Texas A&M. At season’s end, he was named a consensus all-American while also winning the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top interior offensive lineman.
Despite his ability, Robinson carries some off-field baggage. He was arrested in his hometown last May for felony illegal possession of a stolen firearm. Though the district attorney in the case declined to prosecute, citing insufficient evidence, there’s no doubting the incident will be brought up by teams at the next level.
Strengths
- lengthy, big-bodied offensive lineman;
- started all 43 games he played in at Alabama;
- elite-level athleticism for the tackle position;
- efficiently squares himself to defenders, giving him the advantage at the point of attack;
- possesses lateral footwork necessary against speedy edge rushers at next level;
- able to quickly move into the second level and neutralize linebackers;
- plays to the whistle with high intensity;
- fierce competitor who always shows up for big games.
Weaknesses
- needs to have more knee flex as part of overall blocking;
- upper body tends to extend too far forward on initial contact;
- speedy, athletic defenders can get him off-balance;
- instincts and overall in-game awareness will have to improve;
- off-the-field red flag in the form of weapons/narcotics arrest last May.
NFL Comparison: Trent Williams
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Bucs
Projection: mid to late first round
Bottom Line
The ideal panacea to help contain the myriad elite edge defenders in today’s NFL is stationing a dominant force at left tackle. Robinson proved in college that he has what it takes to transition into such a force at the next level. He possesses big game ability and played in the College Football Playoff all three years of his collegiate career.
Questions will undoubtedly be posed about his off-field transgression. And we’ve certainly seen players fall in the draft as a result of concerns about incidents like it. Just look at what happened with Laremy Tunsil last year. That said, Robinson possesses the tools to eventually become a game-changer on the offensive line with whoever takes him. As a result, expectations are that he’ll be the first tackle off the board in the 2017 draft.
