NFL Draft 2013: Teams Still Nervous About Denard Robinson Despite Improvement

Feb 23, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Denard Robinson speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports /

Denard Robinson is an interesting situation entering the NFL Draft. On the one hand he can be viewed as a multi-talented quarterback and wide receiver hybrid capable of playing in insane offensive packages that could land him in Philadelphia with Chip Kelly. But the consensus unfortunately seems to be that Robinson is a mystery of a prospect and a linger issue with his nerves isn’t helping anything at all.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, Robinson is improving when it comes to his right arm healing after it was stepped on last October in a game against the Illinois Illini. Robinson is just now regaining the full use and feeling in his fingers which bodes well for his ultimate recovery. But it’s still doing little to sell teams on the notion that Robinson is a player not only worth taking in the late rounds of the draft but at all.

Some teams v concerned about WR Denard Robinson's elbow/nerve problem they say affects opening/closing of hand. Fate rests on med rechecks
— Bob McGinn (@BobMcGinn) April 8, 2013

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Robinson has twice the strength he had in his had back at the combine medical test in late February. Rapoport also reports that Robinson’s injury isn’t expected to cause any long term damage and should heal, but that’s not causing anyone to lineup to draft the Michigan product.

Robinson is all over the place in terms of talent and value, and when it’s all said and done, his hand might be the least of his problems as unemployment is a very real possibility in Robinson’s immediate future.

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