MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ Demarcus Robinson was one of the Eagles' 30 pre-draft visits before the 2016 draft. General manager Howie Roseman liked the Florida wide receiver, but not enough to select him before the Chiefs in the fourth round.
"The Chiefs drafted me," Robinson said when asked about the Eagles' then-interest, "so they must not have like me more than the Chiefs did."
Nevertheless, the Eagles could have another opportunity to snag Robinson. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next month, and per NFL sources, Roseman and company have the 25-year-old receiver in their sights.
"I'm just focused on the game right now," Robinson said Thursday at the Super Bowl when asked about free agency. "I think all of that will take place after the game and I'll try and look at that later."
Kansas City will likely make a play to keep their guy, but Robinson should have multiple suitors. The Chiefs also have Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, and Mercole Hardman under contract for 2020. Even if Watkins, who has a large salary cap number, goes it should be hard to keep Robinson.
His statistics don't pop off the page, but Robinson has been mired behind Hill on the depth chart. In four seasons, he has 75 catches for 949 yards and eight touchdowns. But when Hill missed four games this season with an injury, Robinson caught 16 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns.
"We're all pretty good guys," Robinson said of the Chiefs' receiver corp. "Those guys are starters right now, and that's what the coaches label them. But we just have to roll with that."
The Eagles will be looking to address the receiver position this offseason. While it's unclear if either Alshon Jeffery or DeSean Jackson will return, or in Jeffery's case, even play because of a Lisfranc foot injury, Nelson Agholor, at the least, is unlikely to return.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, who had a disappointing rookie season, will definitely be back.
Robinson would likely make an easy transition into the Eagles' offense, which has many similarities to the Chiefs' system. He plays the "X" spot, which typically goes to the fastest receiver. Robinson's 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds at the combine wasn't nearly among the best in his class, but he looks faster in pads.
He fell in the draft likely because of character concerns in college. He was suspended three times for failing drug test due to marijuana use and once for violating of team rules. But Robinson has seemingly put those troubles behind him without nary a dissenting word about his behavior in Kansas City.
He's poised to cash in no matter how Sunday's Super Bowl ends.
"He busted his butt all offseason," Hill said. "He came in with the mindset that he's not going to be denied this year. And that's the kind of mindset you've got to have."
