Bengals bet on Navy DT Landon Robinson’s blend of power and movement as he fights for a spot

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson late in the draft, and coach Zac Taylor’s stance is direct: Robinson is too talented to be kept off the roster. In a day-and-age where training camp reps decide outcomes, Cincinnati’s bet is that what Robinson showed in college, including his ability to win as a pass-rushing interior player, will translate quickly enough to matter in the team’s crowded defensive tackle rotation.

Robinson, a multi-sport athlete who arrived at the Naval Academy and later built his pro body for the interior line, is entering the first year of a four-year rookie contract worth $4.5 million. According to the reporting, his average annual salary is just over $1.1 million, with a $925,571 cap hit and $162,284 in dead cap value. Those numbers do not guarantee a roster spot, but they reflect typical team expectations for a Day 3 pick who still has a clear pathway to earning snaps.

Cincinnati’s interest in Robinson’s physical tools is a large part of the story. While he is considered undersized for a traditional defensive tackle role, the reporting describes him as one of the strongest players from his draft class and points to concrete strength markers, including a 665-pound squat, a 465-pound bench press, and a 350-pound power clean. It also highlights movement traits unusual for that weight class, including a reported 4.86 40-yard dash and a 32.5-inch vertical jump.

In the Bengals’ view, Robinson is not being added as a simple depth body. The reporting frames him as a “Geno Atkins type” prospect, emphasizing the potential to become an interior disruptor who can influence games with speed off the snap and power once engaged. Cincinnati’s coaching continuity matters here too, since the reporting credits Jerry Montgomery’s work with Robinson at the Shrine Bowl and notes Taylor’s praise of Robinson’s talent and work ethic during the team’s development process.

Robinson’s background also points toward why Cincinnati may expect him to absorb instruction quickly. Before Navy, he lettered in football, track, baseball, and wrestling. As a high school linebacker, he earned all-state honors. The transition to defensive tackle came with a bulk-up at the academy, and even within that change, the reporting portrays him as a player who kept producing, including a college résumé that the Cincy Jungle draft breakdown describes in terms of production as an interior pass rusher.

Competition at defensive tackle is a real obstacle. The reporting characterizes Cincinnati’s interior group as crowded, and Robinson’s immediate job is earning a place on the final 53-man roster out of training camp. That makes this less about whether he can develop over time and more about whether he can distinguish himself early through consistent leverage, finishing reps, and the ability to create pressure without needing matchup-specific conditions.

What to watch next is simple and practical. Early camp performances, especially on third down and in passing situations, will likely shape how quickly the coaching staff trusts Robinson with meaningful snaps. If he continues to look comfortable absorbing coaching, matching the reported athletic profile with repeatable technique, Cincinnati’s late-round bet could become a roster reality rather than just an offseason talking point.

If there is a caveat, it is that the margin for error at defensive tackle can be tight for undersized prospects. Robinson’s physical tools and work ethic are compelling on paper, but final roster decisions still hinge on consistency against NFL bodies. For Bengals fans, the payoff question is whether Robinson’s early flashes can hold up long enough for the staff to keep him there when cuts loom.