If the Patriots are going to find left tackle help, their options are running out .

According to multiple reports, veteran Cam Robinson is signing a 1-year contract worth up to $14.5 million with the Houston Texans.

Robinson, 29, represented the best available free-agent left tackle after other top options came off the board earlier this week. The Patriots had interest in Pro Bowler Ronnie Stanley , but the veteran re-signed with Baltimore last season. The team was also outbid for veteran tackles Dan Moore and Jaylon Moore.

A veteran of eight NFL seasons, Robinson started last year in Jacksonville before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings.

Drafted in the second round in 2017, Robinson has started 101 out of 101 games played with most of his time coming on the left side. He’s logged 6,317 snaps at left tackle compared to 50 snaps at tackle-eligible tight end and two snaps at left guard.

Robinson has been a standout left tackle since high school and started at that spot as a true freshman at Alabama. He entered the 2017 draft as one of the best offensive line prospects and started instantly at left tackle for the Jaguars. Robinson’s dealt with some injuries as he suffered a torn ACL in 2018. A knee injury limited him to nine games in 2023.

But still, Robinson was considered one of the better tackles in free agency. The market thinned considerably this week. Before the legal tampering process started, Los Angeles re-signed Alaric Jackson and Baltimore re-signed Stanley. Then, the Patriots were outbid for Dan Moore (who signed with Tennessee) and Jaylon Moore (who signed with Kansas City).

With Robinson off the board, the Patriots options are limited. Veteran Tyron Smith, 34, is the best available. He started 10 games last year for the Jets. Another free agent, Jedrick Wills, 25, was the No. 10 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft but never lived up to the hype.

For the Patriots, the left tackle position has been a revolving door over the last two seasons.

Last year, the Patriots veteran Chuks Okorafor with the plan to play him at left tackle. Then they drafted Caedan Wallace in the third round and also wanted to play him at left tackle. Both players, however, played almost exclusively on the right side.

Okorafor quit after one game. Wallace landed on the injury reserve. Vederian Lowe ended up starting 13 games for the Patriots at left tackle. Pro Football Focus ranked him 69 out of 81 tackles.

In 2023, the Patriots started three different players at left tackle – Trent Brown, Conor McDermott, and Lowe.

The Patriots kicked off free agency by signing veteran right tackle Morgan Moses. The team entered this week hoping to fortify their offensive line to help Drake Maye. Last year, the team allowed 52 sacks, which was the most allowed in New England since 1999 (56) and the sixth most in team history.

After not bringing in any legitimate veterans, the Patriots may look for help in April’s draft. Will Campbell and Armand Membou are considered two of the best tackle prospects – and are projected to be selected in the first round.