No shortage of players deserve shoutouts after the Washington Commanders' shocking Week 3 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. But right near the top of the list is a newcomer everybody already appears to have been wrong about.
Cornerback Amik Robertson was one of the first free agents general manager Adam Peters signed this past spring. He didn't have the best season with the Detroit Lions last year, and Washington gave him a two-year, $15.02 million deal with a $6 million signing bonus and $9 million guaranteed.
So naturally, initial reactions were mostly negative.
Amik Robertson already looks like Commanders' biggest offseason steal
In three weeks, Robertson has been more than the Commanders' top cornerback. He's been one of Washington's best players.
While all of the attention in Washington's defensive backfield has gone to the struggles of Mike Sainristil, Quan Martin, and Jeremy Reaves, nobody is talking enough about what Robertson is doing.
But after Sunday, he deserves his flowers.
Robertson forced a first-quarter Jadarian Price fumble and was rock-solid at CB1 with Trey Amos still on the mend and Sainristil officially in the doghouse. The undersized yet highly competitive veteran may be limited athletically, but don't ever underestimate his heart.
Against the Seahawks, Robertson was perfect against every Seattle receiver except Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is currently playing at a level even prime Darrelle Revis probably couldn't cover. He's taking on Washington's toughest assignments, and he's holding his own and then some.
From @NextGenStats
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 28, 2026
"Amik Robertson allowed just three receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown, while also recording four passes defensed, across a team-high 9 targets faced in coverage in Week 3 against the Seahawks.
"All the production Robertson allowed came on four targets…
Amik Robertson is the perfect fit for Commanders' new defense under Daronte Jones
When the Commanders signed Robertson, the expectation was that Amos and Sainristil would be their starting boundary corners while the 2020 fourth-round pick would play the nickel. Instead, he's taking on a much bigger workload, and he's embracing it.
Robertson is a tough-minded player with a knack for getting his hands on the ball. Although he often struggled to cover his man in Detroit, he was a big-play threat, with 20 pass breakups in the past two years.
This season, he already has six.
With Amos on the shelf for at least one more week, Robertson will need to keep up his hot start when the Commanders travel overseas to play the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. And given Sainristil's demotion, the Louisiana Tech product should probably prepare to be a full-time starter all season.
The NFL is a year-to-year league. For players, the scheme and role can make all the difference in their performance. Robertson wasn't a great fit with Kelvin Sheppard in Detroit, but he's been just what the doctor ordered for Daronte Jones.
No one saw Robertson as a major difference-maker when the Commanders first signed him. But in a cornerback room that desperately needed someone to step up, his signing has been a home run.
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