JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars are using the franchise tag to keep left tackle Cam Robinson from hitting the free agent market next week.
The team announced the decision Tuesday afternoon. The deadline to apply the franchise tag was 4 p.m. The franchise tag guarantees Robinson $14,507,000 in 2021. He’ll play the season under that tag unless the team signs him to a long-term extension.
Robinson played in all 16 games for the first time in his career last season and helped pave the way for a record rushing season by undrafted rookie James Robinson.
“We are heading in that direction [with] Cam. [Offensive line coach] George Warhop feels very strong about his future and the development. We realized that he has a great future, his ceiling is very high,” Meyer said.
“I’ve studied him very much. I spent some time with him. We feel that the way this free agency is moving, is that left tackle position as always, but even more now this year, from hearing from the guys have been in an NFL. This is a tough year for that left tackle position, and we feel just what’s out there, and with coaching, culture, and development, Cam has a lot of talent.”
Robinson was a second-round pick out of Alabama in 2017. He started 15 games as a rookie that season and has made 47 career starts for the Jaguars. Robinson missed all but two games in 2018 due to a torn ACL.
Keeping Robinson means that the Jaguars won’t need to bring in an outsider at one of the most important positions on the offensive line to help protect presumptive No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence’s blind side.
Meyer said that he feels strongly about the offensive line, especially the interior of the unit. Speculation about the trade or release of left guard Andrew Norwell seemed to come to an end Monday. Meyer, who coached Norwell at Ohio State, said that he wants to keep him in Jacksonville.
“I see him being part of the Jaguars and I want him to be part of the Jaguars,” Meyer said. “He’s, for me personally, I love the guy, just because I know him better than most.”