With the talent that oozes out of Patrick Mahomes, it's easy to make certain receivers look like superstars, yet most receivers seem to drop off the face of the earth when they're no longer in Kansas City. But one former Chiefs receiver is about to make his mark on a team that is a true Super Bowl contender in the NFC despite their slow start to the season.
Demarcus Robinson spent six seasons (2016-2021) in Kansas City to start his career. Although Chiefs fans soured on him during the end of his tenure, he has been one of the very few receivers who has succeeded after leaving Patrick Mahomes and Arrowhead.
Robinson has even more of an opportunity to shine and collect some touchdowns in his second year catching passes from Matthew Stafford as a Los Angeles Ram. That's because both Rams' top wide receivers—Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua--have suffered lower leg injuries that will keep them out for weeks—maybe even until Week 9.
Robinson already has 7 catches on 15 targets for 124 yards (17.8 ypc) through three games this season. Those numbers are bound to go way up, especially with their game against the lowly Chicago Bears this upcoming Sunday.
Even though his 1 catch for 32 yards (below) against the 49ers might be contrary to the point, he also had a major 34-yard reception that his teammate Tutu Atwell tossed to him on the very next play that was inches away from being in bounds and a 7-yard catch negated by a penalty in the second quarter. Overall, he was providing plays that sparked a huge fourth-quarter comeback against the 49ers.
Demarcus Robinson may not have had a statistically jaw-dropping game but his big catch was a major shot of adrenaline for the Rams’ comeback victory over the defending NFC champions
— Shawn O’Brate (@SportsGuyShawnO) September 23, 2024
(🎥: @NFLonFOX) pic.twitter.com/Fr0nJNhGmz
The former fourth-round pick in 2016 seems to have finally found his new home in Los Angeles, proving it late last season when he had four straight games with a receiving touchdown on the way to a gutsy one-point loss in the Rams' opening playoff game in Detroit.
Robinson's ascension is already being noted, especially in fantasy football, which showed before the Rams' first offensive snap against the 49ers when his ownership rate skyrocketed from 20% in Week 2 to 62%.
Robinson is actually a post-Mahomes rarity among former Chiefs WRs.
Believe it or not, Robinson has already had one of the best careers after leaving Mahomes. And yes, that includes his mediocre season in Baltimore and his preseason in Las Vegas before getting released on the first cut day.
That's because outside of Robinson and Miami's Tyreek Hill, there have not been many success stories for receivers once they leave the confines of Arrowhead.
Sammy Watkins also went to Baltimore after leaving Kansas City, only hauling in 1 touchdown on 54 targets and 30 catches. He'd spend 2022 on two teams (Baltimore, Green Bay) before finally saying he "might be done" with professional football back in May.
Mecole Hardman's tenure ended similarly to Robinson's, as he felt the spurns of Chiefs' fans and social media hatred before exiting Kansas City last year. When he originally signed with the New York Jets it seemed like his success would continue with Aaron Rodgers. Fast forward 11 months and Hardman was already back in KC catching a Super Bowl-clinching touchdown.
Chris Conley has been on four teams since leaving Mahomes, finally settling in with San Francisco and even playing against Kansas City (mainly on special teams) in Super Bowl LVIII.
Jody Fortson couldn't even make Miami's final roster. Byron Pringle has already been on two teams in two years, and is presently sitting on Washington's sideline without a catch in 2024.
Josh Gordon, Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, De'Anthony Thomas—the list goes on and on. This just proves that perhaps Chiefs Kingdom was a little harsh on Robinson's way out—even if it was the appropriate time to part ways—considering how successful he's already been and his potential over the next few months in Los Angeles.