Josh Robinson has signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team confirms.
The Minnesota Vikings showed little-to-no interest in re-signing free agent cornerback Josh Robinson coming off a season in which Robinson played only six defensive snaps after spending most of the year on the PUP list with a torn pectoral muscle.
Robinson was therefore forced to shop himself around in free agency, reportedly visiting the Miami Dolphins at one point. Ultimately, Robinson was able to find a new home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team has officially announced the signing.
Robinson joins former Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes in a re-vamped Buccaneers defensive backfield. For those who are wondering, Leslie Frazier is no longer employed by Tampa Bay. He has moved on to Baltimore to coach defensive backs.
The 25-year-old Robinson was originally a 2012 third-round pick by the Vikings out of Central Florida. He started six games his rookie season, finishing with two interceptions and three passes defensed.
The Vikings tried the 5-10 Robinson at slot cornerback in 2013 with disastrous results. Robinson moved back outside in 2014 and looked like an adequate player except when he was forced to cover bigger, stronger receivers.
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Robinson’s lack of durability seemed to be an issue for Mike Zimmer in 2014 and that problem cropped up again in 2015 when Robinson reportedly fell down in a mini-camp drill and suffered a torn pec. Robinson would start the regular season on PUP and not be available again until week 12, by which time he had been buried on the depth chart behind Terence Newman, Trae Waynes and Marcus Sherels.
Perhaps the speedy-but-undersized Robinson can re-ignite his career down in Tampa Bay. He goes down in the books as a draft miss by Rick Spielman.