Raiders DB Amik Robertson is starting to prove he belongs

From growing up in rural Thibodeaux, La., to starring at Group of 5 college Louisiana Tech, Amik Robertson was used to being “the guy that everyone loved.” He made mistakes like anyone else, but they were hardly ever amplified, while onlookers fawned over his accomplishments. The small bubble he thrived in served as a protective layer between him and the general public. When he reached the NFL in 2020, however, he soon realized that was no longer the case.

Robertson had far more lows than highs in his first two seasons as a pro. He knew the transition wouldn’t be easy, but he wasn’t expecting the blowback that followed. Listed generously at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds, he was called too small and was tabbed as someone who should be cut. It didn’t matter whether the criticism came from the media or fans — he soaked it all in.

“I kind of was bad with that,” Robertson said last month. “I think it ruined my confidence a little bit.”

To rediscover his belief in himself, Robertson had to look back. His father, Arthur, was in prison when he was born and remained out of his life until he was a preteen. His mother, Kima, raised Robertson and his siblings alone, frequently moving them from house to house. At one point, Robertson had to leave Louisiana to live with his uncle in Houston. And after returning to Louisiana, Robertson became a father at just 16. As Robertson considered everything he had been through, he realized that outside noise was nothing to fret over.

“Coming from where I come from, we don’t make it this far,” Robertson said. “And I told myself, ‘If I can make it through that, nothing anybody says should matter. Use it as motivation.’”

Robertson made just 18 appearances and two starts through his first two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders but solidified himself as a member of the cornerback rotation last year. He played all 17 games and made seven starts, including the final three games of the season.

After spending the first three games of the 2023 campaign coming off the bench, Robertson got the opportunity to return to the starting lineup at nickelback when Nate Hobbs was injured in Week 4. When cornerback Jakorian Bennett went down with an injury of his own, Robertson moved to outside cornerback in Week 5 and sealed the win against the Green Bay Packers with a dynamic interception.

“When Amik is on his game and he’s rolling, he’s one of our best ball hawks,” Antonio Pierce, then the team’s linebackers coach, said after the game. “He’s in and out of the lineup, but he’s always ready and dialed in mentally.”

When healthy — Robertson suffered a concussion against the New York Jets and barely played against the Miami Dolphins the following week as he recovered — he’s been a starter ever since and has played like one of the better outside corners in the league. According to Pro Football Reference, Robertson has an allowed passer rating of 45.4 (fourth in the NFL), a completion rate of 54.8 (33rd) and 5.9 yards allowed per target (58th).

“First of all, he’s extremely talented when the ball is in the air,” Pierce, now the Raiders’ interim head coach, said. “He’s probably one of the more physical DBs, as well. You always see him punch the ball, coming through making tackles. I don’t want to call it the little man complex, but he walks around like he’s 6-2, 220 sometimes, and he’s fearless. He’s a smart football player. He has confidence, and I’m glad he’s finally having success on the field.”

Robertson has 27 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defended and hasn’t allowed a touchdown. He has gone from a player clawing for a roster spot to an impact starter on a good defense.

“Amik’s a certified playmaker,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said. “He’s always around the ball. Every time he’s in there, he’s making plays. That’s just what he does. … The dude is all over the place. The more playing time he gets, the more plays he makes. Major respect to Amik. The guy works his ass off. I love that guy. He’s just fun to be around and he’s a ballplayer.”

Improved technique, football knowledge and experience have all aided Robertson’s progress. But he wouldn’t be here if not for a drastic shift in his mentality.

“I realized that worrying about what everybody else was saying didn’t get me here,” Robertson said. “I’m a very confident guy. Once I built myself up, I didn’t really worry about what anybody said.”

Early in his career, Robertson would let miscues snowball. If he made a bad play, he allowed it to carry over to the next one. Eventually, it would result in full-blown meltdowns.

“I used to harp on that,” Robertson said. “I was very hard on myself when making mistakes. I always wanted to be perfect, but the game is never played perfectly. I had to learn that.”

Former Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and former head coach Jon Gruden drafted Robertson to play nickelback. While he lined up at the position in college, he didn’t truly understand run fits and blocking schemes. That unfamiliarity combined with his struggles to adjust to the speed of the game made it difficult for Robertson to stay on the field.

Over time, Robertson learned the position and the game started to slow down. From there, he had to avoid getting derailed by inevitable slip-ups.

“At corner, you’ve got to have that short memory,” Robertson said. “S— happens. You’ve got to have that resilient mindset to be able to go out there and make a play after that.”

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham quickly picked up on Robertson’s growth in that area. It was apparent in their conversations before he took the field, but it was another thing to see it translate to the field last season as he became a physical, gritty, competitive player with the versatility to play both nickelback and outside corner.

“He’s just always smiling, has good energy around the building,” Graham said of Robertson. “He’s a ball hawk. And, really, his toughness always shows up. … He’s mentally tough enough to be able to bounce back from a bad play.”

Robertson didn’t become a full-time starter last year, but he played the entire season for the first time in his career. It proved to be crucial to his development.

“It helped my growth a lot,” Robertson said. “Last year, I got a lot of playing time. I was able to get comfortable. I made enough plays to show flashes of being a playmaker. So, coming into this year, I wanted to build off of that, make less mistakes, make more plays and win more than I lose. So far, that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Robertson entered training camp believing he would leave as a starter, and though he made the roster, he lost a competition for the starting job with Bennett. That’s something that would’ve affected him negatively in the past, but this time he remained positive.

“The old me would’ve been mad, but the new me was more, ‘I did whatever I could. I controlled what I can control,’” Robertson said. “I knew I left it all out there. And the bigger picture was I made the 53-man roster, so I still had an opportunity. I knew it’s a long season and injuries would happen. I knew my opportunity was going to come; I just had to be prepared for it.”

Robertson was ready when it came. To maintain that position, however, he knows he can’t ease up.

After all, Marcus Peters started the first 12 games of the season but was cut last month due to subpar performances and a lack of effort. Young cornerbacks like Jack Jones and Jakorian Bennett are chomping at the bit for more playing time, and veteran Brandon Facyson could soon be activated from injured reserve. There’s little room for Robertson to let down.

“Right now, I’m just trying to stay consistent and be the best version of myself,” Robertson said. “I know I’m a playmaker. I know I can be an All-Pro corner. But talk is cheap. I’ve got to go out there and do. That’s why when I’m out there, I’m confident, I’m poised, I play with passion and I’m an energized guy. I love the game of football.

“I just want people to know that I belong.”