Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has made the playoffs in every season of his nine-year NFL career. But in 2024, the veteran achieved a myriad of things he never had before.
This season, Robinson started every regular season games for the first time, setting career-highs in receiving yards, yards per reception, touchdowns and first downs. Robinson showed up consistently in clutch moments, something the L.A. prized considering more than half of its games were decided by one score.
All that happened during a contract year, as the 30-year-old receiver is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 12. Yet, at the end of the season, Greg Beacham of the Associated Press reported that Robinson would welcome a return.
"I love the organization, love my coaches," Robinson said. "Whatever I have to do to try to be here in the same system, because I think it fits well for me."
Stats
All stats include regular season and playoffs courtesy of Pro Football Reference, except deep yards (passes 20+ yards downfield), courtesy of Next Gen Stats (* = career-high, ^ = team-high).
| Season | Games (starts) | Catches | Yards | Touchdowns | Deep Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 17 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 17 (9) | 25 | 269 | 1 | 33 |
| 2018 | 18 (5) | 23 | 315 | 4 | 177 |
| 2019 | 19 (12) | 35 | 484 | 4 | 219 |
| 2020 | 19 (11) | 47 | 491 | 3 | 51 |
| 2021 | 20 (12) | 29 | 340 | 3 | 113 |
| 2022 | 18 (5) | 50 | 507 | 3 | 41 |
| 2023 | 17 (5) | 29 | 415 | 4 | 122 |
| 2024 | 19 (19)*^ | 35 | 602* | 7*^ | 286*^ |
Improvement: Deep ball production
Robinson's biggest improvement this season was his deep ball production, which accounted for 47.5% of his total yardage in 19 games.
He showcased that in Week 9, with a one-handed, walk-off touchdown grab in overtime against the Seahawks. That play extended Los Angeles' win streak to three and ended up being the difference in the division race at the season's end. The score was Los Angeles' most impactful offensive play of the season in terms of win probability added, as it took the Rams' chances of winning from just over 67% to 100%.
The beginning of the season saw injuries to both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, forcing Robinson to step up as a leader and producer for the offense.
"You talk about a guy that's maximized his opportunities, I don't necessarily even know if it's stepping up, he's just being the DeMarcus that we've come to know really well," said head coach Sean McVay. "He's getting more and more comfortable. I think he and (quarterback) Matthew (Stafford) have a really good rapport and he's delivered. It's been great to be able to see him in the endzone because he always has some good swag and some good celebrations"
Robinson also earned a career-high 15.9 air yards per target this season and often served as the deep threat to take the top off the defense, opening up the short and intermediate areas for other pass-catchers. That was especially impactful when Nacua and Kupp returned to the lineup in Week 8, but Stafford wasn't shy about letting it fly when Robinson had one-on-one opportunities.
During that game, the Rams trailed Minnesota 14-17 in the third quarter, knocking on the door of the red zone. Stafford said he told Robinson to be ready for a go ball, even though he wasn't the first read. Stafford was expecting pressure; he got it and gave Robinson a chance. It resulted in a 25-yard touchdown catch for Robinson just inside the pylon. This play was a great illustration of Robinson's value as a veteran in a complimentary role.
In the Divisional Round matchup against Philadelphia, Robinson ripped the ball out of safety Isaiah Rodgers' hands for a 48-yard gain at the end of the first quarter. The pass had just a 29.6% chance of being completed, according to Next Gen Stats, but the veteran came down with the crucial catch, leading to a field goal.
These big-time plays aren't coincidence, they're an accumulation of Robinson's experience and elite body control. In their second season together, Stafford was impressed with Robinson's quickness for a 6-1, 202-pound receiver, helping him separate and win contested catches all over the field during his best pro season yet.
"I think for a guy his size, he's sudden and explosive," Stafford said. "... He is a big dude, wiry, sudden mover and has a great feel for what's going to get him open. Some guys just have a great feel. He does a great job of that, especially in those sticky man-to-man type situations. He has done a nice job of finishing some big plays for us, so that's a huge plus."
