Green Bay Packers 2021 NFL Draft Prospects to Know: CB Aaron Robinson

Finding a boundary cornerback is at the top of everyone’s to-do list this offseason for the Green Bay Packers — as it should be — but adding some competition inside at the nickel position and potentially upgrading it would be highly beneficial as well.

Chandon Sullivan was the primary “star” corner last season and will be back for the 2021 season after being tendered. While he was serviceable, Jared Goff and Tom Brady both went after him during the playoffs and found success. As I said, it’s an upgradeable position.

As new defensive coordinator Joe Barry pointed out during his introductory press conference, the “star” corner is an important part of the modern NFL defense, playing roughly 80 percent of the defensive snaps—so basically a full-time starter.

In this year’s draft, there are several options for the Green Bay Packers to fill that role, or at least add some competition, and an early-round candidate is Aaron Robinson from UCF.

Robinson spent the 2016 season with Alabama before transferring to UCF. He would sit out of the 2017 season, played a small role in 2018, taking 151 total defensive snaps, and has been a full-time starter for the Knights the last two years.

Robinson has taken a majority of his snaps out of the slot but has experience out wide as well, with nearly 300 snaps there over his career and another 209 as a box defender. During his two seasons as a starter, Robinson was targeted 103 times, allowing a completion rate of 56.3 percent and just 10.4 yards per catch.

He would give up six touchdowns during that span, but he also came away with three interceptions — none in 2020 — and 15 pass breakups. It’s also worth noting that Robinson was called for eight penalties, including five this past season.

Standing at about 6’0″ and weighing 186 pounds, Robinson brings good size to the slot position as well as athleticism — which includes a 4.39 40-yard dash –, and he would be an immediate upgrade over Sullivan in that regard. He is also a capable defender in both press-man coverage, where he played roughly 40 percent of his snaps over the last two seasons according to PFF ($$), as well in zone.

Here is what Joe Marino of The Draft Network has to say about Robinson’s game in his pre-draft scouting report:

"“While he has some experience playing out wide, his best fit at the next level is likely in the slot. Robinson is a versatile defender that can function in both man and zone coverage and he will make the run defense better with his ability to fill and defend the D-gap. Overall, he’s a physical player with quick feet and sufficient athleticism.The concerns with Robinson at the next level are his modest coverage instincts, ordinary ball skills, and proving the tackler he was in 2020 is what he will be moving forward and not the inconsistent finisher he was in 2019. Robinson has the ability to become a featured slot corner in the NFL, but he will need to become more sure of himself in coverage and play the game with better angles.”"

In what is a very deep cornerback class, PFF likes Robinson, rating him as their seventh overall cornerback and as the 55th rated prospect on their big board. The Draft Network, on the other hand, doesn’t feel quite the same way. Robinson is the 13th rated corner and 93rd ranked prospect overall.

As far as where Robinson could be selected, the NFL Mock Draft Database has an early third-round projection on him based on the mock drafts and big boards they’ve compiled this offseason from draft analysts. This, of course, is just a projection; as one of the top slot corners, Robinson will draw plenty of interest.

If the Green Bay Packers are able to land Robinson, he will immediately challenge Sullivan for playing time and could take over as the top cornerback option inside. He has good size, very good athleticism, brings physicality to the position, and is a versatile defender, as highlighted above.

With Barry now calling plays on the defensive side of the ball for the Green Bay Packers, the hope is that the defense takes a step forward in 2021 — they certainly have plenty of talent to do so — and improved play from the nickel cornerback will go a long way in helping them achieve that.