Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated Feb 16, 2026 3:34 PM ET
We’re getting closer to NFL free agency opening, and over the next few weeks, you’ll see the Detroit Lions begin to bring back some of their own players on new contracts.
With that in mind, we’ll be profiling multiple Lions and discussing whether they’ll be coming back. We’ve already talked about Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Kalif Raymond. Today, we talk about Amik Robertson.
Why Amik Robertson stays in Detroit
2025 was not Robertson’s best season. In fact, it was pretty rough. There’s really no other way to look at it. With that said, having a veteran cornerback on the roster who can play inside and outside is not a bad idea if you want that player to be part of a rotation and not a starter. This is where Robertson really fits well.
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Why Amik Robertson does not come back to Detroit
2025 was not Robertson’s best season, but it was expected to be. That’s the big problem here at the end of the day. Going into 2025, the Lions had things figured out. Robertson could go back to the slot where he was really good in 2024, and the combination of him, D.J. Reed, and Terrion Arnold was supposed to be really good. The problem is that two of those guys got hurt, and Robertson found himself as a hybrid corner the rest of the way, and it did not work out.
He allowed a passer rating of 110.5 in 2025. That is one of the worst in the league and essentially means quarterbacks were targeting him because they felt he was close to a sure thing. He allowed six touchdowns and many explosive plays. It was just rough.
In the headline, we talked about answering questions. There are a lot of them, but the one that’s above all of them is, do the Lions want a near-total reset at cornerback? The answer is that for the third year in a row, they should. This time, they need to get it right. Sadly, getting it right does not mean bringing back Robertson.
Amik Robertson Contract Projection
It’s going to be hard to see Robertson get more than a prove-it deal from anyone this year. We’re talking a one-year deal worth $4 million with $2,75 million guaranteed.
Final Prediction
I think the writing is on the wall here. Robertson’s 2024 season was so good, and it capped off with him locking down Justin Jefferson. Unfortunately, he was not able to recapture that in 2025, and he had the worst season of his career. I don’t know if the Lions look to go all in on that near-total reset. But I do believe they look to upgrade in the slot. That puts Robertson on the outside looking in.
This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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