Free agent wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. His one year deal will pay him around $2.3 million for 2020.
While the team and fans are happy to have him back, this is a somewhat surprising move. He was expected to receive tremendous contract offers from other teams on the open market. Now, he will get another chance to grow in the Chiefs offense.
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Slow Start
Demarcus Robinson was a 2016 4th round pick of the Chiefs, coming out of Florida. To begin his career, he did not see the field much. Limited snaps on special teams was about it for Robinson early on.
Throughout the last few years, he has been slowly more intricated into the offense. In 2017, Alex Smith‘s final season in Kansas City, Robinson was utilized more in important games. A highlight game for Robinson that year, was in a Thursday night game at the Oakland Raiders. He and Smith connected for five catches and 69 yards, with a longest catch of 33 yards. Demarcus Robinson showed in that game, he could win deep or in the short game.
Moving Up The Ladder
Meanwhile, his status grew even more in 2018. With Patrick Mahomes‘ first season as the starter, Kansas City became more flexible in who they used at the wide receiver position. Sammy Watkins also dealt with nagging injuries in the second half of the year. Robinson hauled in a reception in 12 of the regular season games. The best of his moments from that year came after the bye week.
His 38 yard reception at the Raiders, set the Chiefs up for a touchdown right before halftime. His season high in receptions (5), came the next week versus the Baltimore Ravens. The famous no look pass from Mahomes was caught by Demarcus Robinson. Moving on to the playoffs, he made a crucial 27 yard catch in crunch time in the AFC Championship Game. This set Kansas City up for the game tying field goal at the end of regulation.
Finally, Demarcus Robinson had more responsibility in 2019. Due to early injuries to Tyreek Hill and Watkins, he became the hot hand. He had a career day at the Raiders going for six catches, 172 yards and two scores. He came up with timely catches in the two home playoff games. Then, Demarcus Robinson finished this past season with a career high in 35 catches, 484 yards and four touchdowns. Furthermore, the new Super Bowl ring puts the cherry on top of a vibrant, growing role in KC.
Run It Back
Throughout the offseason, the Chiefs have made it a priority to retain as much of their Super Bowl core as possible. Again, the market Demarcus Robinson was expected to have should not have made this reunion possible. He will now get the chance to further prove himself in the high powered Kansas City offense.
Watkins situation is very much still up in the air too. With the moves the Chiefs have made so far, the salary cap has been tip toed around plenty already. At this point, it feels like a restructure or release has to be the only answer for Watkins. Kansas City likely wants to keep him. We’ll see how this plays out.
If Watkins is gone, Demarcus Robinson could get a chance as WR2 on the depth chart. But, if Sammy stays, then the Chiefs will have somehow retained their top four receivers from 2019.
Demarcus Robinson provides stability on special teams, not just at receiver. This could lower the chance of this team taking a late round wide receiver in the NFL Draft. For Robinson’s sake, he could still earn a long term deal next offseason, if he continues to do well.
Be on the lookout for more Chiefs offseason coverage. Included, will be draft prospect profiles and free agency topics. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.
