Veteran WR Allen Robinson has two jobs with Giants

Allen Robinson has two jobs during this training camp with the New York Giants, and they seem to conflict.

One job is to try and win a spot on the 53-man roster, the first time in a career that began in 2014 he finds himself unsure of having a place on a team.

The other job is to mentor Malik Nabers and the other young wide receivers who will be central to the success or failure of the Giants’ offense in 2024.

Brian Daboll said he “laid on the line” with Robinson the situation he would be in before the veteran receiver signed with the team.

“I had a conversation with him when we were first talking about bringing him in and you cover that because I don’t want players coming in here expecting one thing and it’s totally different,” Daboll said. “So, they have to understand what it looks like and what I see it as, the expectation, is it a good fit for you, too, and that you want to be part of it. I laid it on the line with him. This is what it was. If you have any questions, I’ll be as truthful as I can to you and then make that decision. If it works good for you and works good for us, then it’s a good partnership.”

Robinson, with 10 years of experience and 562 catches on his resume, has more than accepted a mentorship role. He seems to be thriving in it.

Robinson said he knew when he signed with the Giants that his role would be “multi-faceted” and that he has an “open forum” with the younger receivers “to spread my knowledge.”

Daboll revealed a recent film session where Robinson asked to rewind a clip the coach was showing and then had a one-on-one discussion with Nabers about what they were seeing.

“He adds an element of leadership in the room with some younger receivers,” Daboll said. “When you can get some veterans in the room, whether it’s the receiver room, defensive line room, running back room, that know what it looks like, knows how to be a pro, that helps.”

Robinson described what happened:

“It was a question that I heard Malik ask and I wanted to kind of give him a little bit more clarity as far as how somebody could see that based on what the DB is doing and some tips that he could look for with the DB and how they’re playing and so on and so forth,” Robinson said. “When I came in the NFL we came in with a very young room so I didn’t have a vet. So for me, being able to be that guy now who has played the last 10 years under their belt in the NFL, being able to share as much knowledge as I can with some of the younger guys with questions that they have.

“I always have an open forum, that’s on and off the film. Yesterday it was the film room, but any time guys have off-the-field questions, training, or anything like that, being able to help guys because I want to see guys thrive.”

It’s a role similar to what Sterling Shepard, now competing for a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had with the Giants a year ago.

Robinson, who will turn 31 next month, is also in a unique situation as a player. A 2014 second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, he is in training camp without the guarantee of a spot on a 53-man roster for the first time in his career.

“It’s different than any situation that I’ve been in before,” Robinson said. “At the same time, for me, that’s not solely in my control. I just go out there and try to be the best player I can be.”

Robinson said that in his mind competing for a job and helping young receivers get better are different things.

“Whether it’s me sharing knowledge with guys, so on and so forth, those things aren’t one and the same. They have nothing to do with each other,” he said. “If I was in the room anyway, no matter if I was, guaranteed a spot or not I would be sharing the knowledge and so on and so forth to the younger guys.”

Robinson had a 102-reception season for the Chicago Bears in 2020 but has caught just 105 passes combined in the last three seasons. He is coming off a year with career lows in receiving yards (280) and yards per catch (8.2).

Robinson has practiced primarily with the second and third units throughout the spring and early portions of training camp. Nabers, Hyatt, Robinson, and Darius Slayton will be on the roster, provided they are healthy. Robinson is in the mix for one of the remaining receiver spots.

“I feel great. I still know I got some ball left in the tank,” Robinson said. “It’s just about going out there, being the best player I can be.”