A few media outlets have mentioned the Falcons as a possible Bijan Robinson landing spot. It makes sense for a few reasons.
First and foremost, the schematic fit is seamless. Nobody other than Justin Fields and the Bears ran the ball more and more efficiently than Arthur Smith’s offense. Bijan Robinson would immediately have high usage numbers.
Secondly, he’s a generational prospect who, if he finds the right situation, has MVP potential. He’s more than a traditional three-down back. Robinson is the best pure runner and, arguably, the best pure receiver in this class. The impact he could have in Atlanta’s run-heavy offense is seismic.
Thirdly, there aren’t many blue chip prospects in this draft class, and Terry Fontenot has spoken ad nauseam that his club will select the best player available. Robinson could very well be the best player left when the Falcons are on the clock.
However, things are working against the narrative.
The Falcons still have needs on the roster, but running back is certainly not one of them. Tyler Allgeier is an emerging star under contract through the 2025 season for around $1 million per year. The #8 overall pick, regardless of the player, will cost considerably more than that. Cordarrelle Patterson is also as effective as ever when healthy.
And how could we forget the positional value? Taking a running back with the 8th overall pick isn’t exactly a well-thought-out roster-building decision. The shelf life of the position isn’t long, and second contracts rarely workout — Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, etc. However, not giving a top-10 pick a second contract isn’t a great look.
Nonetheless, according to Vegas odds, Atlanta remains the second most likely team to draft Bijan Robinson. FanDuel has the Cowboys as the favorites, sitting at +550 odds while the Falcons trail at+600, followed by the Texans at +700 and Chargers at +800.
Dallas currently owns the 26th overall pick; Houston sits at the 2nd and 12th picks, and Los Angeles picks 21st. All of this tells me that Vegas doesn’t have a read on the situation, and Robinson could land anywhere. I don’t see it being the Falcons unless a trade back happens.
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Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire
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