As he enters his first season with the Detroit Lions, it remains uncertain what kind of role cornerback Amik Robertson will have.
Robertson started in 19 of 34 games for the Las Vegas Raiders the past two seasons and saw time both in the slot and out wide.
The former fourth-round pick saw 866 snaps on the boundary in that span, and another 383 in the slot.
During spring practices, Robertson worked in the slot with Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold manning the boundary, but last year’s slot corner, Brian Branch, did not take part during the offseason program as he rehabbed from surgery.
How much Robertson plays in the slot will depend upon how much the Lions deploy Branch at safety this season, and Robertson will have to beat out rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr. for the slot role if it opens up.
Robertson’s coverage numbers from the last two seasons certainly indicate he’s a starting-caliber player.
In 2022, he surrendered a completion rate of 60.9% and a passer rating of 96.2.
He improved those numbers in 2023, with a completion rate allowed of 59.1% and a passer rating allowed of 87.4.
While Robertson is clearly better than a backup-level cornerback, he may not have any choice but to be a “depth player” in 2024 depending on how things shake out, which just goes to show the kind of talent Detroit has at the position.
