Free Agent Profile: WR Allen Robinson

Taking a closer look at what free agent WR Allen Robinson has to offer

It’s a good year to be in need of a wide receiver, given the quality of the projected free agent class this offseason. Kenny Golladay, Chris Godwin and Will Fuller are just some of the headline names in this free agent group of receivers, but perhaps the most complete receiver of the bunch is Allen Robinson.

Robinson has proven to be an extremely productive receiver despite inconsistent play at quarterback. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round back in 2014 and then signed with the Bears as a free agent in 2018. Neither the Bears or Jaguars provided him with consistently reliable quarterback play, but he still managed to produce 5999 receiving yards in his career to date, at an average of 13.1 yards per catch, along with 39 touchdowns.

Robinson is a technician. He works multiple different release techniques to get off of press coverage at the line of scrimmage and shows terrific route running ability as he smoothly works in and out of his breaks. These two traits combined allow him to consistently create separation from his defender, making him a trustworthy target for whoever is throwing him the ball.

These three plays are great examples of how he sets up defenders with his releases off the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t receive the ball on any of these plays, but the point is to show how he gets off the line of scrimmage and into his route without disruption. On the first play of the clip he works against Titans’ cornerback Malcolm Butler. Robinson uses a slow skip step off the line as the ball is snapped, closing the gap between himself and Butler. He leans into his right foot, selling a potential release inside before suddenly bursting outside and getting vertical. He swipes down with his right arm to clear any potential jam attempt from Butler, but the sudden change in pace caught Butler by surprise and Robinson was past him before he could open his hips.

On the second play, Robinson uses a similar slow release technique initially, but adds in an extra jab step inside to get the corner to shift his weight inside. As soon he does that, Robinson then bursts outside and gets his free release as the corner can’t reach with his hands to jam him. The third play sees Robinson running a five-yard out. He uses a stronger jab step inside to sell that inside release and force the defender to commit inside. As soon as the defender begins to open his hips inside just slightly, Robinson bursts past him outside and runs a strong route, but the ball goes elsewhere.

That ability to release off the line of scrimmage against press coverage shouldn’t go overlooked. Not every receiver can do it and few make it look as easy as Robinson does. It gives corners a lot to think about if they are tasked with playing press and might make a few prefer to play with more of a cushion so they don’t get beat off the line.

Releasing into the route is a vital part of Robinson’s skillset, but it’s not the only thing he excels at. He’s an excellent route runner, understanding how to set up his routes and manipulate leverage to create separation from defenders and make himself available.

These are examples of how Robinson wins consistently, with route running prowess. The first play of the clip comes against the Vikings. Robinson runs a deep over route off of play-action, which are typically advantageous routes for the receiver to run because it's hard for the cornerback to start with outside leverage and keep up with a route crossing the middle of the field. Some receivers get lazy with their routes because of this, but not Robinson. Watch how he initially works inside but after about five yards he adjusts his route more vertical. This might seem counterintuitive because he gets closer to the defender instead of just running away from him, but watch what it does to the defender. The cornerback instantly stops his momentum and takes a step backwards, worried about the route suddenly breaking down the field vertically. Once that corner takes the step backwards, Robinson breaks back over the middle, separating from the corner in the process.

The second play crosses over with the releases we looked at previously. The corner is rolled up in press, but not directly on the line of scrimmage. Robinson uses that extra space to release quickly off the line and close the gap to the corner. He then uses an excellent jab step with a strong lean over his inside foot, forcing the corner to open his hips inside. Robinson then sharply opens up outside and works down the sideline on a fade route. The third play comes against zone coverage. Robinson has a corner in press against him, but that corner is only there to force an inside release before peeling off to the flat. Robinson works inside and gets vertical, but at 10 yards, he breaks sharply inside. The deep safety reads the route as a potentially threatening crossing route, so drives down towards the middle of the field, anticipating Robinson continuing his break inside. However, Robinson suddenly breaks off his route and sits down in a hole. This causes the safety to take the wrong angle, leaving Robinson open for his quarterback to find.

Strong route running is the best way for receivers to consistently create separation and get open, and Robinson is one of the best in the league in that regard. It means he will likely be productive even as he ages and loses some of his peak physical traits like speed and agility, because he doesn’t rely on those to win. It also means he’s capable of lining up at just about any spot on the field while still being able to get open.

Here are two examples of something Robinson has done more and more of in his career lately. On both of these plays against the Packers, Robinson aligns in the slot, first in an empty formation and then in a slot set with two receivers to the same side. With Robinson in the slot, certain defenses that lean more on zone coverages will end up walking a linebacker or safety out over him. The defender will be playing zone, but they will have to match up against Robinson, at least initially. That’s where Robinson can win with his route running, which cornerbacks often find hard to defend, let alone less athletic safeties or linebackers. On both of these occasions, Robinson wins quickly inside and is open, but only receives the ball on the first play.

Playing in the slot has some significant advantages for a receiver like Robinson, but it does expose receivers to more hits, with defenses typically having more defenders in position to defend the middle of the field rather than of the perimeter. That doesn’t phase Robinson though, who regularly shows a willingness to make tough catches while shielding the ball from incoming defenders.

The first play of this clip comes on a fourth down attempt. Robinson aligns in the slot to the right and runs a quick slant to try and pick up the three yards needed to convert. With Robinson in the slot, the Rams don’t have a defender directly over him, instead the safety to his side of the field aligns about 10 yards off of him, giving Robinson plenty of room to work. As the ball arrives, Robinson uses his body to shield it from the incoming safety. He quickly tucks the ball away and shows his back to the defender, preventing the defender from making a play on the ball. Robinson took a big hit for his troubles, but he did pick up the first down. On the second play, Robinson aligns outside and runs a quick hitch. The corner plays off, giving him the chance to play with vision on the ball and break quickly on any quick throws underneath. Once again, Robinson shows great technique by using his big frame to shield the ball from the defender, who reads the throw and drives on it early. The defender does his best to try and knock the ball out, but Robinson holds on tightly to complete the catch.

Robinson consistently shows strong reliable hands. He’s able to shield defenders from the ball, but he also has the catch radius to adjust to poorly placed throws or throws deliberately placed in particular areas to prevent defenders from making a play on them.

Here we see two examples of Robinson adjusting to different placements of certain throws. In the first example, Robinson runs an out route intended to get just enough yards to pick up the first down. However, with the corner playing off, he’s able to read the route and the throw and drive on the ball. The throw appears to be intentionally placed low and outside to allow Robinson to make a play on the ball without the defender being able to get to it. It’s not ideal, but receivers have to be able to make these adjustments and Robinson showed no issues getting low to make the catch. On the second play, Robinson runs a slant, but the throw is slightly wayward. It’s a little bit high and behind Robinson, but he manages to slow his momentum to adjust to the ball and bring in the catch, despite the defender having an opportunity to get his hands on the ball.

His hands and catching ability lead to another way in which Robinson can separate from defenders: vertically. Some receivers have the ability to go up and win contested catches over defenders. Things like fades, double moves and back shoulder throws are all something Robinson can win in multiple ways, either through his release, his route running or vertical separation at the catch point.

These are some of Robinson’s more spectacular catches. The first comes on a back shoulder fade against the Titans. The defender plays the route pretty well, but the ball is thrown to Robinson’s back shoulder and he jumps over the defender, adjusting his body in the air and comes down with the pass. Routes like that are almost impossible to defend when executed well. The second play comes from the same game. Robinson runs an out-and-up double move to the left of the formation. His release and route were so good that he was actually open for a first down had the route just been a normal out route. But Robinson then turned up the field as part of the double move and the defender was able to stick with the route because they had been beaten so effectively by the initial part of the route. Nevertheless, Robinson is able to get a yard on the defender as he works down the sideline and the quarterback delivers the throw. The window is tight with Robinson so close to the sideline, the corner on his inside hip and the safety over the top. But because of Robinson’s ability to go up and get the ball, the quarterback deliberately places the ball higher than he typically would. This allows Robinson a chance to separate from the corner vertically, which he does. He makes the catch over the top of the corner and brings it down in bounds to complete the big play.

Robinson is the complete package as a receiver. He wins consistently with his ability to release off the line of scrimmage from press coverage along with his route running prowess. He makes himself a friendly target for whoever is throwing him the ball thanks to his reliable hands and toughness to withstand hits over the middle. Whichever team does sign him can feel comfortable about getting value in the contract, as he has a natural progression from X receiver outside to a big slot receiver inside as he ages if need be. He should be a true No.1 X receiver wherever he goes.

From a Washington perspective, the team clearly needs another threat at receiver to take some of the pressure off of Terry McLaurin. Robinson would certainly do that and then some, and Washington would be better for adding him. However, there could be some issues that come from signing Robinson. Both Robinson and McLaurin are X receivers and while both are good enough to play other spots, both deserve to be the go-to guy at the X receiver spot. That being said, Amari Cooper is an X receiver and Washington offered him more money than the five-year $100 million contract he signed with Dallas last year. McLaurin could certainly shift to play the Z spot and both can play in the slot.

Offensive coordinator Scott Turner is creative and has plenty of formations and motions to get both guys in positions that suit them, but I do wonder if Turner would prefer a different type of receiver opposite McLaurin, someone that stretches the field a little more than Robinson does. With that in mind, I’d guess Washington would prefer to target a different profile of receiver at perhaps a slightly cheaper rate than Robinson to pair opposite McLaurin. But if the team ended up chasing Robinson, I certainly wouldn’t be critical of them adding such an accomplished receiver. Given the quarterbacks Robinson has played with so far in his career, however, I suspect Washington would need to have an established quarterback in place before free agency to be able to attract Robinson.