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New Orleans Saints Biggest Draft Misses under Sean Payton: No. 2, Patrick Robinson

By John Hendrix

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The New Orleans Saints are set to have one heck of a night at the NFL Draft. Rumors continue to circulate as to what the team will do with their two first round picks, and we’ve heard it all. Is it right to trade up for Leonard Williams or Vic Beasley? Who knows. Will the team potentially trade back if their guy isn’t there? Possibly. The price to pay is what’s most important. General manager Mickey Loomis stated in his presser yesterday that the New Orleans Saints are looking for players that can help the team ‘right now’.

We’re on our last two players of the biggest draft misses under Sean Payton series, and our selection for runner up may hit close to home. We’re talking Patrick Robinson.

Patrick Robinson, Cornerback
2010 Draft, 1st Round, #32 Overall – Florida State

Heading into the draft, Patrick Robinson was deemed the No. 6 cornerback prospect out of 166 possible corners. Despite the Saints carrying Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter, the team would take Robinson with the last pick of the first round following the Super Bowl year. Robinson had speed. He was active, and was strong at anticipating routes and plays.

Arguably, Robinson’s best season came during the 2011 season, and was one of the lone bright spots of the abysmal 2012 secondary (excluding that Dallas game, of course). Robinson racked up 33 pass defenses over those two seasons, and was set to really come into his own approaching 2013 with the addition of Keenan Lewis. Unfortunately, we’d never see it, as Robinson tore his patella in the second game of the season, and it was hard to watch. His judgement remained a ‘mixed bag’.

Upon returning to the team in 2014, he figured to be best utilized in the slot. However, due to injuries and the dismissal of Champ Bailey, he’d see most of his action lining up as the team’s second cornerback. In all honesty, Robinson may have sealed his own fate during Week Two. He had two horrible penalties, and just didn’t look right covering the Cleveland Browns receivers. Throughout a series of being benched and coming back into the picture, it simply wasn’t enough.

After spending five years with the Saints, the two parted ways during free agency. Robinson drew a great deal of outside interest, but chose the San Diego Chargers on a one-year deal worth $2 million on March 19, 2015.

All in all, Robinson was never suited to be the Saints cover corner. He had ups and downs, but mostly downs. Ultimately, he was supposed to be the guy covering the slot, and that’s why I dub him as a major miss. It’s not entirely his fault, but just a product of his environment.

Some players the Saints could have drafted in that Round: Being that they were the final pick in the round, here’s some gems from the second; T.J. Ward (#38), Rob Gronkowski (#42), Daryl Washington (#47), Carlos Dunlap (#54), Sean Lee (#55), Brandon Spikes (#62)

Let these videos provide you the ups and downs of Patrick Robinson.

Stay tuned as we count down the biggest busts and misses leading up to the NFL Draft!

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