Bengals Roster Breakdown: Lance Robinson is bringing more Bayou energy up to Cincinnati

Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.Today, we get to know […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Lance Robinson
© Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.

Today, we get to know defensive back Lance Robinson. A New Orleans kid through and through, Robinson was a high school star in football and track and field before going off to Kansas State. He eventually transferred back to the Bayou to finish his collegiate career at Tulane. Now he's in the NFL on the same team as his childhood friend. 

Lance Robinson

  • Age: 24
  • Year: 1st
  • Position: Cornerback
  • College: Tulane
  • Previous Teams: None
  • Jersey Number: 39

Robinson signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. His first three years in college were spent at K-State, where he played just 386 snaps for the Wildcats. He took advantage of his COVID years and played three more years back home for Tulane, where he started for two of them at cornerback. 2023 was by far his best year as he racked up four interceptions, seven pass breakups, and allowed a passer rating of just 72.2 when targeted. 

It's very rare to end up as NFL teammates with someone you've known your entire life, but that became a reality for Robinson when he signed with the Bengals. Robinson and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase go way back as close friends and teammates from a young age. 

"He knows my tendencies, I know his tendencies," Robinson said of Chase. "We stayed away from each other. He said, 'You do your thing, I'll do my thing.' I feel like if I can do well against him, I can do well against anybody." 

Their paths split off when they each attended different high schools, but Robinson will be back to facing off against Chase this summer in training camp. He'll need all the reps he can get to make the team with Uno.

Contract details

Robinson signed a three-year college free agent deal with the Bengals in May that will pay him the minimum salary for the 2024 season.

His salary will cost $795,000 for the entire season if he's kept on the team for the entire regular season, but with a $7,000 signing bonus prorated throughout the deal, his cap hit as of now is $797,333 for the year.

Roster chances

Scarcity is a factor that plays into Robinson's hand. He was the lone cornerback the Bengals added after the NFL Draft, and the club drafted just one cornerback in the fifth round. Unlike other positions such as safety and wide receiver, cornerback isn't stacked with as much new personnel, which gives Robinson a better chance to stand out.

Five cornerbacks are pretty much locks to make the team: Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton, Dax Hill, DJ Turner, and rookie Josh Newton. Six is usually the number Cincinnati lands on. The guys Robinson will be competing with are Jalen Davis, Allan George, and an injured DJ Ivey. 

The practice squad remains the more likely outcome for Robinson, but relative to all the UDFAs on the team, his chances of lasting through final cuts is pretty solid. He doesn't even need his buddy Chase to vouch for him—Robinson can do this all on his own. 

Chances of making the roster: 20%

Previous player breakdowns

Related Articles