Before he signed a two-year deal with the Lions, cornerback Amik Robertson thought he was headed to the 49ers.
The Detroit Lions signed cornerback Amik Robertson to a two-year deal worth up to $9.25 million this past offseason. However, before the Raiders 2020 fourth-round pick landed in the NFC North, the Niners made an aggressive attempt to bring Robertson to the Bay Area. In a conversation with Dave Birkett, Robertson revealed that the Lions were his favored destination, but the team and his agent were unable to come to an agreement on the first day of free agency.
“Robertson, whose rooting interest in the Lions stemmed from his friendship with cornerback Kindle Vildor, told the Free Press this week the Lions reached out to him on the first day of free agency,” wrote Birkett. “When he and the team didn’t reach an immediate deal, he fielded other offers — including one potentially more lucrative from the 49ers.
Robertson told his agent he wasn’t ready to sign with the 49ers that first night, he preferred to be in Detroit, and by the next morning the two sides had agreed to a two-year, $9.25 million contract.”
Slot cornerback was one of the 49ers clear offseason needs heading into last summer’s free agency, given the struggles of Ambry Thomas and Isaiah Oliver. While they ultimately landed Isaac Yiadom on a one-year, $3 million deal, they apparently prioritized trying to sign Robertson. Robertson was coming off the most productive season of his career with the Raiders. In 17 games (12 starts), he recorded 50 tackles, 6 passes defended, 2 tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
While the Niners missed out on Robertson, Yiadom’s production in San Francisco has kept pace with Robertson in Detroit. Injuries have actually pushed Robertson to the outside in recent weeks, where he will likely line up against the Niners. Nevertheless, Robertson will face the 49ers for the first time since spurning them in free agency on Monday.