Cincinnati Bengals key undrafted free agent signing is also a lifelong friend of Ja'Marr Chase

Lance Robinson was the lone cornerback the Bengals signed in college free agency after the 2024 NFL Draft, but he's already well connected with one of the team's best players.

Robinson, a native of New Orleans, has known Ja'Marr Chase since they were each five years old, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. The Louisiana natives played sports together up until attending different high schools.

"He knows my tendencies, I know his tendencies," Robinson told Hobson. "We stayed away from each other. He said, 'You do your thing, I'll do my thing.' I feel like if I can do well against him, I can do well against anybody."

Friends reunited in the Queen City

While Chase stayed in state for all three of his years in college, Robinson initially attended Kansas State before transferring back to his hometown to play for Tulane. He became a staple of the Green Wave's defense as Chase was asserting himself as an NFL star in Cincinnati.

They've stayed close friends throughout their different journeys. Now their paths are intersecting. 

"Cincinnati, with one of my best friends, I don't have to go find an apartment right away," said Robinson, who's staying in a hotel for now but will live with Chase soon. "Just little things like that where I can just focus on being on the team and staying on the team. That's my main focus."

Robinson's friendship with the three-time Pro Bowler is a cool side story, but the 24-year old wants his own game to lead his story.

"He's him and I'm me, I don't want to hang on nobody's coattails," Robinson told FOX19's Joe Danneman. "It's good that he's a role model and he's my peer, but I'm my own man. I wanna create my own foundation, create my own way, of course go at it in one-on-ones here and there. 

"I told him and my family if all goes well you can catch touchdowns in the game, I can catch interceptions."