Prominent Ex-Viking Officially Traded to Cleveland Browns
The Minnesota Vikings traded for a man named Cam Robinson last year when OT Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL, and the Cleveland Browns have traded for the same man in 2025 because OT Dawand Jones tore his LCL.
Former Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Cam Robinson is on the move to the Cleveland Browns after a trade by the Houston Texans on Monday.
It’s a new arrangement — but the same — for Robinson, who is evidently a left tackle trade mercenary in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns Acquire Minnesota Vikings LT Cam Robinson
Robinson must’ve been familiar with the news.
Cam Robinson Traded from Texans to Browns
It’s a done deal for Robinson, the Houston Texans, and the Browns.
CBS Sports‘ Jordan Dajani wrote Monday, “The Cleveland Browns are adding some help on the offensive line, as they have traded for Houston Texans offensive tackle Cam Robinson, according to NFL Media. The deal reportedly includes a swap of late-round picks in 2027.”
“Cleveland.com recently reported the Browns were in the market for a left tackle due to injuries. Joe Flacco lost Dawand Jones to a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and right tackle Jack Conklin has missed the last three games due to an elbow injury.”
The Browns play — you guessed it — the Vikings on Sunday in London, and Robinson could be ready as early as then.
Robinson’s New OL Setup in Cleveland
With Robinson in the mix, the Browns will showcase this offensive line fivesome, a group that the Vikings could encounter in England, depending on Robinson’s game-readiness by Week 5:
LT: Cam Robinson
LG: Joel Bitonio
C: Ethan Pocic
RG: Wyatt Teller
RT: Jack Conklin
It’s also worth noting that the other tackle, Conklin, has battled injuries so far this season.
Pro Football Focus ranked the Brown’s offensive trenches as the NFL’s third-worst before Week 4. PFF’s Zoltan Buday explained, “Offensive tackle Dawand Jones left the Browns’ Week 3 game against Green Bay after just four snaps and is not expected to play again this season.
“His replacement, KT Leveston, gave up four pressures — including two sacks — and was beaten 10 additional times, leading to a paltry 15.5 PFF pass-blocking grade. The Browns’ offensive line didn’t hold up well against Green Bay pass rush. The group allowed 19 pressures — including two sacks — on 37 pass plays, leading to a 71.6 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating (30th).”
The hope for Cleveland is that Robinson can help shove this ranking closer to the middle of the league. Otherwise, the season may be toast.
The Emergence in Houston of Aireontae Ersery
Why would Houston trade Robinson six months after signing him from free agency? After all, in March, he was on tap as the Texans’ left tackle solution.
Well, 2nd-Round rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery has already taken Robinson’s job due to a fruitful summer and preseason. Ersery hasn’t set the world on fire via PFF — a 49.5 grade through four games — but the Texans apparently trust his on-the-fly development more than Robinson’s veteran presence.
For the price of a 6th-Rounder, the Browns received a replacement tackle for Jones, along with a 7th-Rounder in the deal.
The franchise trusts Ersery.
Robinson’s Brief Stop with the Vikings
The Vikings’ deal for Robinson in 2024 centered around a 4th-Round pick, an emergency trade after Darrisaw got hurt last October.
With the Vikings, Robinson played decently, definitely not at Darrisaw’s level but also not pitifully. At the time, the Vikings were in the process of creating an unforeseen 14-3 record. They needed a tried-and-true tackle, which Robinson provided from a long-time starter’s stint in Jacksonville.
In the end, Minnesota’s entire offensive line collapsed when it mattered the most against the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs. The team didn’t re-sign Robinson a couple of months later, and he chose the Texans in free agency.
ESPN’s Take on the Trade
ESPN on Cleveland’s deal for Robinson: “Cleveland has used four different starting offensive line combinations in as many games because of offensive tackle injuries. In addition to Jones’ season-ending injury, right tackle Jack Conklin has missed the past three games because of an elbow injury.”
“Robinson, who signed a one-year contract with Texans as a free agent in March, was inactive for Houston’s 26-0 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He appeared in Houston’s first three games but made just one start. The Texans paid $8.75 million of Robinson’s $12 million 2025 contract via a signing bonus, so the Browns are only on the hook for the proration of his $2 million base salary and $1.25 million in per-game roster bonuses.”
The new Brown will turn 30 in a week and a half.
“He also has $500,000 in incentives. In the offseason, Houston drafted left tackle Aireontae Ersery in the second round to compete with Robinson, who suffered a knee injury early in camp that knocked him out for a couple of weeks. Ersery took full advantage of the injury and snatched the starting role. But Robinson still started in Week 1 because of an injury to right guard Ed Ingram,” ESPN added.
“That forced Houston to insert Robinson at left tackle while pushing Ersery to right tackle while the original right tackle starter Tytus Howard went to right guard. But once Ingram was healthy enough to start, Howard went back to right tackle and Ersery returned to left tackle. That relegated Robinson to a backup role.”
The Browns are 5.5-point underdogs facing the Vikings this weekend.
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