By Blessing 
Why the Lions Should Consider Trading Amik Robertson Before the 2025 NFL Draft
Detroit’s defense proved its resilience last season, managing to hold strong despite having 13 players land on injured reserve. That toughness helped them lock in the best record in the NFC. Now, as the NFL Draft approaches, the Lions are expected to add more depth on defense—but they also need to think ahead. And that forward-thinking could lead to a tough decision: moving on from a current contributor before his contract weighs too heavily.
One player who might find himself on the trade block? Cornerback Amik Robertson.
Robertson joined the Lions on a two-year deal worth $9.25 million last offseason. By most accounts, his debut season in Detroit was a solid one. The 5-foot-9, 183-pound corner carved out a role in the nickel spot, playing all 17 games, starting in four, and tallying 50 tackles, eight passes defensed, and three forced fumbles.
One of his standout moments came in Week 18, when he was tasked with covering Minnesota’s superstar receiver Justin Jefferson. He gave up four receptions for 60 yards on eight targets—respectable numbers considering the matchup. Unfortunately, his postseason ended with a broken arm in the playoff loss to Washington. Still, many fans remember that Jefferson performance as a highlight going into the offseason. But that might be creating a skewed perception of his overall year.
According to Pro Football Focus, Robertson earned a career-best overall grade of 64.7, yet his coverage grade dipped to 62.2. His performance in the slot raised some concerns too. Among 42 qualifying cornerbacks, he allowed 1.61 yards per coverage snap, ranking sixth-worst. And he wasn’t exactly lightly used—his 287 slot snaps ranked 19th among all corners.
That wouldn’t be a major red flag—players are moved around all the time—if not for the financial angle. Over The Cap estimated his performance value last year at $1.957 million. But his actual cap hit was $2.85 million—and that’s about to skyrocket to $6.4 million in 2025.
With that kind of salary jump, the Lions may need to make a calculated move. Trading Robertson now could allow them to recoup value from a veteran whose stock is still relatively high. And for teams that miss out on cornerback help in the draft, Robertson could be an appealing stopgap solution.
It won’t be an easy decision. But if Detroit wants to stay competitive and flexible, putting Robertson on the trade block might be the smartest play.