His play at left tackle guided the University of Alabama to three straight Southeastern Conference championships and a College Football Playoff national title during the 2015 season, but now Cam Robinson hopes to lock up a first-round status. The Monroe, La., native was a five-star recruit upon signing with the Crimson Tide in 2014. In three years, he cleared the way for 37 points and 456 total yards per game.
Robinson, who won the 2016 Outland Trophy and SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, assisted 28 100-yard rushers, two 1,000-yard backs and two 3,000-yard passers in his career. As a sophomore, he helped Derrick Henry record 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 395 carries to secure a Heisman Trophy in 2015.
Following a season in which he was one of three unanimous All-Americans for the Tide, Robinson enters the upcoming NFL Draft as the 25th-best prospect overall and No. 2 offensive tackle in the class (per CBS Sports).
Despite sustaining multiple injuries in his tenure and falling victim to false start penalties, his size—6-foot-6 and 310 pounds—hands, length and experience (44 games) makes him a day one starter for multitude of teams with issues on the offensive line. Listed below is a breakdown of five NFL teams that could use Robinson.
San Francisco 49ers (NFC West, 2016 record: 2-14)
The departures of coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke begin a new era for the San Francisco 49ers. Regardless of whether Colin Kaepernick is the one or not at quarterback, a return to the playoffs for a once feared NFL franchise starts along the offensive line.
Aside from its rushing attack, San Francisco finished near the bottom of the league in every major offensive category during the 2016 regular season. Losing the turnover battle (-5) and a lack of pass protection caused a lot of issues, especially when Kaepernick was sacked 36 times. Cam Robinson allowed 10.5 sacks through 44 games at Alabama, including three sacks in 861 snaps as a freshman in 2014. Drafting him would ease the conscious of anyone under center, while keeping a steady balance of run and pass to keep a defense honest.
Denver Broncos (AFC West, 2016 record: 9-7)
After winning Super Bowl 50 with a stellar defense and Peyton Manning at quarterback, the Denver Broncos missed the postseason at 9-7 in 2016. Offensive tackle Russell Okung has a Super Bowl ring from his tenure at Seattle (2010-15), but the injury bug has followed him throughout his professional career.
Should the Broncos not retain him for next season; a need at left tackle opens up. While it had two running backs total 500-plus yards a year ago, Devontae Booker led the team with 612 yards and four touchdowns.
Denver finished near the bottom of the league offensively, allowing the Houston Texans to secure an AFC South Division title. Though he completed close to 60 percent of his throws, quarterback Trevor Siemian was sacked 37 times and tossed 10 interceptions. Prior to stepping down as head coach, the offensive mind of Gary Kubiak was predicated on a sound zone-blocking technique in the run game. Once the offense establishes the edge, the entire playbook is at its disposal. At Alabama, Robinson was keen on man, gap and zone blocking.
Los Angeles Chargers (AFC West, 2016 record: 5-11)
Seventy-three percent ( eight of 11) of the Chargers’ defeats came by a touchdown or less.
The move to Los Angeles may require the franchise to look into its future at quarterback and adding a second explosive wide receiver; however, Phillip Rivers had a strong year in 2016. He turned in an eighth career 4,000-yard (4,386) season, and his fourth straight 4,000-yard output since 2013. A balanced run game is what’s missing from the Chargers’ offense, as it finished 26th in the league (94.4 ypg) during the season.
Protecting Rivers (sacked 36 times) and continuing to develop Melvin Gordon (997 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) are both priorities for first-year head coach, Anthony Lynn.
Carolina Panthers (NFC South, 2016 record: 6-10)
If nothing else scream “offensive tackle wanted” for Carolina, just look at the difference in statistics on Cam Newton between this season and the 2015 Super Bowl run (lost to Denver, 24-10).
Newton had four more interceptions in 2016 than the previous year (14-10), while having a better completion percentage and total quarterback rating in 2015. The need for improved effort at offensive tackle has been heard for three seasons, but now the Panthers have chosen to react. With the exception of pass offense (similar) and rush offense (10th), Carolina fell from the top-10 in major categories following the 2015 season.
| 2015 | 2016 |
| Total OFF: 11th | Total OFF: 19th |
| First Downs: 4th | First Downs: 20th |
| Turnover Margin: +20, 1st | Turnover Margin: -2 |
| Points: 31.3, 1st | Points: 23.1, 16th |
Seattle Seahawks (NFC West, 2016 record: 10-5-1)
Good News: Russell Wilson had a 4,000-yard season.
Bad News: He was sacked 41 times.
Even with the Seahawks making the playoffs, its need for a reliable offensive tackle is just as high as the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Pete Carroll witnessed his group dropped from a top five NFL rushing offense in 2013 (Super Bowl champs), to not being mentioned in the top-20 (99.4 ypg, 25th).
Regardless of its success in the passing game and total offense, Seattle’s journey to the playoffs took 546 pass attempts from Wilson: a difference of 139 attempts from its Super Bowl season. Not having quality play at the tackle position led to 12 of the Seahawks’ 18 giveaways being interceptions. It was a healthy balance of run and pass four years ago that helped Seattle’s offense match its tenacious defense in steamrolling the Denver Broncos, 43-8, in Super Bowl 48.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
