During OTAs, you’d see this No. 7 jersey with the wide receivers. He was making plays. I had no idea who it was. Sure enough, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has a new number.
Before the 49ers signed Mike Evans, Robinson wore No. 5. He caught six passes for a team-high 111 yards in the Wild Card round against the Eagles. Before that game, Robinson had failed to gain more than 50 yards in a single game during the regular season.
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The 49ers used Robinson primarily on in-breaking routes last season. Robinson ran an in-breaking route 42 percent of the time, which was a career high. Welcome to Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Three of Robinson’s four targets against Philadelphia were on in-breaking routes. He ran 11 total that game. Things weren’t much different the week before against Seattle. The only difference was the production. Robinson only caught one of those 15 in-breakers.
Last week, Robinson was the beneficiary of Mike Evans. The big play he had down the sideline was after the defense flocked toward Evans, forgetting about No. 7.
Basic Info
Age: 32
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Experience: 10 accrued seasons
Height: 6’1
Weight: 203 pounds
Cap status
Robinson enters the final year of his two-year deal. The 49ers gave Robinson $6 million fully guaranteed. Despite his contract voiding after this season, three additional ghost years were added to help spread out his signing and option bonuses.
It would cost the 49ers $2.4 million to release Robinson, suggesting his roster spot is safe.
Will Demarcus Robinson make the 49ers roster?
Money matters. The 49ers are unlikely to eat over $2 million to part ways with Robinson. While they have the cap space to do it, he’s a veteran presence in a young receiver room. Outside of Evans and Christian Kirk, the rest of the group is on their rookie contract. Perhaps a better question is: who has a better chance of making the roster, Robinson or Kirk?
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Evans
Ricky Pearsall
De’Zhaun Stribling
Jordan Watkins
Jacob Cowing
Those five are locked into the roster, barring injury. The latter two are likely going to be your punt/kick returners, with the first three serving as the top three receivers for the season.
Robinson has never played a special teams snap during his decade-long NFL career. That’s working against him here. His height, while not a skill, does separate him from Kirk and some of the other faster wideouts fighting for a spot. Experience matters here, too. Robinson performed in the playoffs, which can’t hurt his cause.
Kirk feels like the receiver who is repetitive here. Robinson won’t be confused for his blocking prowess, but you can use his frame closer to the line in ways you can’t with a player like Kirk. I’d give Robinson the nod over Kirk if it comes down to those two.
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