Like any fantasy GM that landed James Robinson Last season can attest, the Jaguars did well by signing the Division I-FCS product after the 2020 draft. But the new Jacksonville regime prefers defense competition by entering the next season.
Robinson recorded 240 shipments last season. This total represented an impressive part of the team’s hasty attempts. In the 14 games Robinson played, no other Jaguar running back recorded more than 10 totes. This proportion will almost certainly change in Urban Meyerfirst season of.
“He’s tough. He has a great mentality, the kind of player we are looking for. We have to add a little bit of explosive to that room as well and we have to be able to take out some of James’s shipments, ”GM Jags Trent Baalke said. “You can only ride a horse for so long. “
Even after Cam Robinsonwith the $ 13.75MM franchise mark, the Jags lead the league in cap space ($ 73.67MM). They could win a bidding war for any of the defenders of the free agent. From now on, this group should include Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Kenyan Drake and Marlon Mack. The Broncos also have a decision to make regarding Phillip LindsayRFA contest.
The chase by Jones or Carson may not be on the cards, but the team will be in the mix for a complementary piece – either in a free agency or at the beginning of the draft. While Meyer said (through John Oehser of Jaguars.com) that he hopes to build around Robinson, the new Jags HC really wants more talent to carry the ball on next year’s team.
“He did a great job. He will continue to do a great job for the organization and we feel that he will step forward from where he was a year ago”Said Meyer of Robinson. “But adding a little competitiveness to this room … we feel that we have some internal guys who can compete for roles, but we are certainly looking to increase this room too. “
The Illinois state product ran for 1,070 yards, which came in fifth in the league last season. While Robinson is away from the open market, the Jaguars may move to extend it after the next season due to their UDFA status. Jaguars do not have much depth behind Robinson; potential contributor Ryquell ArmsteadThe return of the NFL is uncertain after he lost the entire season due to COVID-19.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.