*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Differing Views on Cam Robinson
Updated Nov. 3, 2016By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
It has become very clear that the 2017 NFL Draft could be very weak at the offensive tackle position. The top two prospects at the position are Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey and Alabama’s Cam Robinson. McGlinchey has suggested he might return for his senior year, and that could leave Robinson as the clear No. 1 tackle prospect. That could be very interesting because there have been some pundits that have stated that Robinson should be a guard or right tackle in the NFL. In speaking with multiple NFL teams, they have differing views of Robinson and project him in various places.
One NFC team gave Robinson a second-round grade. They say that a team could get away with him at left tackle, but he could have problems with speed rushers. They said they project him similarly to Tampa Bay second-year left tackle Donovan Smith, who has had some good games and some bad ones protecting Jameis Winston’s blind side.
One AFC team said they had Robinson as a first-round pick, but in the back half. They think that he could be better suited to right tackle in the NFL, but a team could get away with him at left tackle. They believe that Robinson would give his team an edge in the run game on the left side. He has strength with the ability to latch on to defenders and control them. He isn’t a drive blocker and his feet die on contact. They believe that Robinson would be an ideal right tackle in the NFL, but he is athletic and think that he will develop into a better player when coached up.
A third team loved Robinson. According to their director of college scouting, they had Robinson as a top-15 pick and believe that he is a Russell Okung- or Ryan Clady-caliber left tackle for the NFL.
Interestingly, none of the sources mentioned Robinson as having to move inside to guard. All three teams expect that Robinson should go on Thursday night. Even the team that gave him a second-round grade thinks Robinson will go in the mid-to-late first because he plays a premium position that is very weak in this draft. There are also are a number of offensive line-needy teams projected to pick in the back half of Round 1. While the consensus around the NFL doesn’t view Robinson as a franchise left tackle, he looks like a safe bet to be a Thursday night selection.
