Bijan Robinson

Latest On Falcons’ Planned Roles For TE Kyle Pitts, RB Bijan Robinson

June 8th, 2024 at 9:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kirk Cousins will be one of the key figures to watch at the start of the 2024 season as the Falcons’ new quarterback. Plenty of the team’s offensive success will of course depend on the play of tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson, though.

Both former top-10 picks faced massive expectations upon entering the NFL. Pitts had a strong rookie showing, but that was followed up by underwhelming campaigns in 2022 and ’23. The 23-year-old was known far more for his pass-catching abilities than his run blocking coming out of college, and to little surprise new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is interested in keeping that element of his skillset a key component of his usage.

“He has so much flexibility with what he can do even as an in-line blocker, then he’s split out wide,” Robinson said when speaking about the hybrid role Pitts is taking on this spring (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). “There is just a lot of versatility…. He’s learning basically two different positions. There is some tight end, and there is some receiver. He’s got a lot on his plate, and he’s handling it really well.”

The Florida alum’s usage in the slot increased year over year with the Falcons during Arthur Smith‘s tenure as head coach. Pitts earned a Pro Bowl nod for his output in 2021 (68 catches, 1,026 yards), but injuries limited him to 10 games the following year. In 2023, he rebounded to a degree with 667 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, but the arrival of Cousins under center could unlock further production. It is interesting, though, that traditional tight end usage will still be an element of his deployment in a new scheme.

Atlanta had a 1,000-yard rusher (Tyler Allgeier) in the fold last offseason before selecting Robinson eighth overall. That move marked the third straight year in which the team used its top selection on a skill-position player (having added wideout Drake London in 2022). Robinson’s usage – 12.6 carries per game – was lower than many anticipated during his rookie campaign, but he expects that to change moving forward.

“Yeah, so I’m going to be more of a runner that does everything else,” the Texas product said (video link via the Journal-Constitution). “Like not as much… but it’s like runner first, like I did in college, and then still having that access to go to receivers, having that access to do creative things out of the backfield, more so like how they use Christian [McCaffrey] down there in San Francisco…. So that’s kind of what their plan is here.”

Robinson received 86 targets last season, playing a notable passing role (albeit in an offense which fared poorly at the quarterback spot). His 58 receptions ranked second on the team, and despite adding Darnell Mooney to the receiving corps Robinson should still be expected to produce out of the backfield in 2024. More of a dual-threat usage would certainly add to the likelihood of that happening.

Atlanta ranked 26th in scoring last season, and improvement in that respect would go a long way toward a postseason berth in 2024. The manner in which both Pitts and Robinson are used will be a key element in those efforts as well as an interesting storyline to follow for the team as a new scheme is implemented.

Falcons To Use Bijan Robinson, Cordarrelle Patterson In Passing Game

June 24th, 2023 at 9:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

The addition of Bijan Robinson to the Falcons’ backfield is expected to boost what was already a productive rushing attack in 2022. It is also likely to yield a change in Atlanta’s deployment of some of their running backs, however.

The Falcons are planning to use Robinson, this year’s No. 8 pick, in a role not exclusively involving snaps from the backfield, as head coach Arthur Smith indicated via ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. The highly-touted back spent time in various alignments during OTAs and minicamp, pointing to a heavy usage as a pass-catcher being in the cards during his rookie season.

Robinson emerged as one of the most celebrated RB prospects in recent memory during his college career at Texas. He posted 1,894 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns during his final campaign, earning him the Doak Walker award as the country’s top running back along with a unanimous All-American nod. He was widely expected to be a Day 1 selection, but going inside the top 10 will no doubt elevate expectations for him right away on a Falcons offense which features a number of dual-threat skill players.

One of those is veteran Cordarrelle Patterson. The 32-year-old made an impact on the ground, in the air and on special teams with 1,609 all-purpose yards in 2021, his first season in Atlanta. His role shifted more towards that of a typical running back last season, though, as he shared rushing duties with Tyler Allgeier in the team’s ground-heavy offense. That setup worked in terms of run production, but a return to his previous alignment can be expected for Patterson.

The latter, along with Smith, is eyeing a larger involvement in the passing game with Robinson and Allgeier in place as rushing options, team reporter Tori McElhaney notes. Patterson has been effective in a Swiss Army knife role previously, earning considerable acclaim for his work as a returner. Being deployed more as a receiver would add to the Falcons’ pass-catching options, a group which includes recent first-rounders Kyle Pitts and Drake London but will be required to take a step forward in production in 2023.

How Atlanta uses their trio of Robinson, Patterson and Allgeier will be interesting to monitor through training camp and into the regular season as the team turns to Desmond Ridder at quarterback for a full campaign. Multiple looks for the former two should be a staple of the team’s offense as they look to maximize their shared potential.

Falcons Sign Round 1 RB Bijan Robinson

May 11th, 2023 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Falcons prepare for their rookie minicamp, they will have their top draft pick under contract. Bijan Robinson agreed to terms with the team on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Selected eighth overall, Robinson signed a four-year, $21.96MM deal that will include a 2027 option for the Falcons to exercise by May, 2026. The former Texas superstar’s rookie deal will be fully guaranteed.

Although the Falcons sported a top-tier rushing attack last season, they opted to take the player widely viewed as the best back in this year’s draft. Robinson finished his collegiate career with more than 4,000 yards from scrimmage and 41 touchdowns. This included a 2022 campaign where he had 1,894 offensive yards and 20 scores, leading to him earning a unanimous All-American nod after the season.

While the rookie only had 60 receptions in three college seasons, the Falcons should still be able to find creative ways to use him in a crowded depth chart. 2022 fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier finished his rookie season with more than 1,000 rushing yards, while veteran Cordarrelle Patterson contributed more than 800 yards from scrimmage (which followed a 2021 campaign where he compiled 1,166 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns).

Even if it takes a bit for Robinson to get going, Atlanta’s front office can hang their hats on a talented collection of offensive skill players. The Falcons have now drafted skill-position talents in the top 10 in each of the past three years. Robinson joins 2021 No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts and 2022 No. 8 selection Drake London in Atlanta. While the previous two picks will not be at Atlanta’s rookie camp Friday, Robinson will begin his Falcons work with the other rookies this weekend.

Falcons Take RB Bijan Robinson At No. 8

April 27th, 2023 at 8:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

The draft’s first skill player is off the board. With the eighth overall pick, the Falcons have selected Texas running back Bijan Robinson.

Robinson was widely considered to be the most talented RB in the draft. However, considering teams’ recent penchant for avoiding first-round running backs, it was uncertain where the he would ultimately land. Rumored to be interested in Robinson, Atlanta indeed proved to be the landing spot. Robinson will join an offense that has invested plenty of assets into skill players in recent years.

Atlanta has used its top selections on tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London over the past two seasons, and the team’s running game will see a considerable boost with the addition of Robinson. The latter won the Doak Walker Award and was named a consensus All-American in 2022 after punctuating a stellar three-year Longhorns stint with a career-year in his junior campaign.

Robinson rushed for 1,580 yards (on an average of 6.1 per carry) and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground. He added 314 yards and a pair of scores in the passing game, demonstrating the dual-threat ability which has led many to draw comparisons to Saquon Barkley. If Robinson reaches that level of production at the NFL level, this selection will be an effective one.

This year’s free agent market demonstrated the league’s view of running backs and how their valuation has dropped in recent years. Robinson was connected to Atlanta in the pre-draft process, with many naming him as an exception to the rule pointing against the usage of premium picks on the RB position. He will step into a crowded backfield in Atlanta, but he is sure to carve out a sizable role.

The Falcons ranked third in the league in rushing yards last season, with 2022 fifth-rounder Tyler Allgeier topping 1,000 yards on the ground. Veteran Cordarrelle Patterson is also in the fold, after showing a continued ability to produce when healthy. Patterson is heading into his age-32 season. Robinson will enter a favorable spot for him to adjust to the NFL level, but he will ensure Atlanta remains a highly productive rushing team for the short- and long-term future.

Bengals, Bills Eyeing RB Jahmyr Gibbs

April 27th, 2023 at 5:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Jahmyr Gibbs continues to generate first-round buzz, and it sounds like a pair of AFC contenders have their eye on the Alabama product. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, both the Bills and Bengals have been tied to the running back.

Gibbs has continued to climb up draft boards in recent weeks following a productive season at Alabama. After transferring from Georgia Tech, Gibbs put together a 1,370-yards, 10-touchdown season with the Crimson Tide. Almost a third of his total yards came in the receiving game, leading scouts to assume that he’ll serve in a Swiss Army Knife-type role in the NFL.

While there have been some concerns regarding his 5-11, 200-pound frame, Gibbs has emerged as the draft’s clear No. 2 RB behind Texas prospect Bijan Robinson. ESPN’s Todd McShay recently wrote that Gibbs has received continued attention around the NFL from evaluators, and it’s gotten to the point where he is expected to be drafted in the first round.

The valuation of running backs has made it difficult to project the range for high-end prospects at the position. However, McShay noted that some teams have little in the way of a gap in ranking between Gibbs and Robinson, and both players are expected to hear their names called later tonight.

Buffalo (No. 27) would be a natural landing spot for Gibbs considering their uncertain depth chart, while Cincinnati (No. 28) would have to get creative with his usage considering the presence of Joe Mixon. Of course, they’re not the only teams with their eye on the player. Breer reiterates previously reported interest from the Giants and Chiefs, and the Dolphins have also been mentioned as a suitor.

Bijan Robinson On Eagles’ Radar At No. 10

April 27th, 2023 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles are one of the teams to enter tonight’s draft with a running back need. They can either add a back to work in a committee of sorts with Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott or make an early-round move to replace Miles Sanders.

While the team has been connected to offensive and defensive line prospects, James Palmer of NFL.com notes Bijan Robinson is in play for the defending NFC champions at No. 10 overall (video link). Only the Eagles and Buccaneers, who hold the No. 19 overall pick, met with Robinson during the pre-draft visit window. But the Texas prospect is viewed as one of this draft’s safest options; he would be expected to be a plug-and-play starter.

This would be an against-the-grain pick for the Eagles, who have valued O-line investments over running back payments under Howie Roseman. The veteran GM traded DeMarco Murray, signed during Chip Kelly‘s 2015 in power, quickly after being given the front office keys back and has not devoted much in the way of expenses toward the lower-value position. But the Eagles did use a second-round pick on Sanders four years ago. Robinson could be kept on a rookie deal through 2027, via the fifth-year option.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. grades Robinson as this draft’s second-best prospect; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slots him third overall. Positional value makes Robinson’s landing spot harder to peg. The Falcons, at No. 8, have been tied to the ex-Texas standout. The Ravens, who have dealt with frequent injury trouble at the position, have also been connected to making a move here. Though, Baltimore holds the No. 22 overall pick.

Additionally, the Eagles continue to look into this draft’s top O-linemen. After Wednesday’s Paris Johnson connection, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski may be in play as well. The Eagles, who let Isaac Seumalo walk in free agency, see both players as being able to begin their career at right guard and eventually transition to tackle to take over for Lane Johnson. Both players’ positional flexibility is important, per Palmer. Several teams see Skoronski as a guard. Neither Johnson nor Skoronski, however, is a lock to be on the board at No. 10. The Cardinals and Bears are interested in O-linemen, though if the Titans are the team that makes a trade for the No. 3 choice, the Cards would be sitting behind the Eagles at No. 11.

The Eagles used a second-round pick on potential Jason Kelce heir apparent Cam Jurgens, who could also factor into the team’s plans at guard. That probably depends on how the Eagles proceed tonight. While no NFL date features more misdirection than Day 1 of the draft, the Eagles — thanks to their April 2022 trade with the Saints — stand to be a major factor in tonight’s first round, given their Nos. 10 and 30 selections.

Latest On Ravens’ Draft Approach

April 26th, 2023 at 10:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Ravens fans are all too familiar with the old Ozzie Newsome effect on the first round of the draft. While the fanbase often clamored for offensive weapons for Joe Flacco, Newsome continuously left them wanting.

From 2010-2014, Newsome used Baltimore’s top picks on linebacker Sergio Kindle, cornerback Jimmy Smith, linebacker Courtney Upshaw, safety Matt Elam, and linebacker C.J. Mosley. He followed it up with two swings in 2015, using the team’s first- and second-round picks on wide receiver Breshad Perriman and tight end Maxx Williams, respectively, but neither pick lived up to their draft stock.

Newsome shocked the world in his last draft as general manager of the Ravens back in 2018, using the team’s first four picks on offensive players Lamar Jackson, Hayden Hurst, Orlando Brown, and Mark Andrews. Since his departure, his successor, Eric DeCosta, has gone for a bit more balance, drafting each an offensive and a defensive player with the team’s top two picks each year, usually trying to add offensive weapons for Jackson like wide receiver Marquise Brown, running back J.K. Dobbins, and wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

The same is expected for Thursday, as the Ravens are reportedly “focused on adding playmakers” for Jackson, in an attempt to prove their intentions of keeping him around, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Many expect this to mean a wide receiver. Baltimore, as usual, has an impressive collection of tight ends in Andrews and second-year players Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar.

They also are expected to return a healthy 1-2 punch of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, both of whom have helped lead one of the league’s best rushing attacks alongside Jackson. It should be noted, though, that Graziano’s comment about adding playmakers was in reference to Texas running back Bijan Robinson. He believes that, if Robinson begins to slide further and further back in the first round towards the Ravens’ No. 22 pick, DeCosta may make a move to trade up and nab another playmaker to support Jackson.

On the other side of the spectrum, Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post confirms that the Ravens are looking to trade in the draft, he just believes it will happen in the opposite direction. La Canfora bluntly states, “The Ravens are shopping this pick.” Granted his mock draft has them trading back one spot to No. 23, he could still be right about the team’s intentions.

Trading back out of the first round was a staple of the Newsome era, usually as a way to acquire more draft capital, something the Ravens lack after the Roquan Smith trade and a move up in last year’s draft to select tackle Daniel Faalele. While DeCosta hasn’t recently shown the same affinity for middle-round draft pick acquisitions, this may be the perfect time for DeCosta to steal a move from his old mentor.

As for what the Ravens would look for when shopping the pick, there’s two likely possibilities. The first of which is congruent with their current needs. If they still desire a young cornerback, there are strong second- or third-round options at the position like South Carolina’s duo of Darius Rush and Cam Smith or Miami’s Tyrique Stevenson.

The second option is a result of this year’s talent-pool. It’s been no secret that the 2023 draft class is not considered especially deep. The Ravens may have the intention of selling their top pick this year in order to acquire much more capital for a draft next year that is projected to have a bit more talent.

With the draft officially less that 24 hours away, we won’t have long to wait and see what happens. Whether Baltimore follows old Newsome tactics of taking the best player available regardless of position, taking a defensive player like a cornerback to replace free agent Marcus Peters, trading back, or even if they take Jackson’s contract negotiations into consideration and go after weapons for the young quarterback, there are options aplenty.

Latest On Falcons’ Draft Plans

April 24th, 2023 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The Falcons have been one of the most active teams in the league so far this offseason, making a number of notable additions on defense. That leaves them well-positioned for the upcoming draft, regardless of which direction they end up taking this week.

Atlanta owns pick No. 8, which should leave them with a number of options on the defensive side of the ball in particular. The Falcons have already invested heavily with deals for safety Jessie Bates and defensive lineman Calais Campbell, along with a trade for cornerback Jeff Okudah. They could add further to their secondary if one or both of Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez, the class’ top corners, were to be available when they are on the clock.

That position represents one of interest for Atlanta, as noted by ESPN’s Todd McShay. Selecting Witherspoon or Gonzalez would come as little surprise, but both coming off the board earlier could change the Falcons’ plans. Both McShay and SI’s Albert Breer add that a trade down is a distinct possibility, with the latter noting that general manager Terry Fontenot has “explored the idea” of moving a few spots down the board.

Especially if that were to happen, attention in the organization could turn to running back Bijan Robinson. The Texas product is widely seen as one of the most talented prospects at any position, but the devaluation of tailbacks has led to a large range with respect to his floor and ceiling in the draft. Both McShay and Breer name Robinson as a prospect of interest for the Falcons in the middle of the first round, and Peter King of NBC Sports has them drafting Robinson in his mock draft (adding that doing so later on Day 1 would provide better value).

Robinson won the Doak Walker award as the nation’s top running back in 2022, adding All-American honors following his hugely productive junior season. That will make him a valuable addition to any team, though the Falcons enjoyed plenty of success on the ground last season with their incumbent options. That includes fifth-rounder Tyler Allgeier, who posted 1,035 rushing yards as a rookie. Robinson would represent not only another investment in the backfield for Atlanta, but the latest in a string of premium picks being used at the offensive skill positions (including tight end Kyle Pitts in 2021 and wideout Drake London last year). Whether the Falcons elect to follow suit this season will be a key storyline to watch.

Draft Rumors: Skoronski, Young, Robinson

April 20th, 2023 at 10:06pm CST by Ely Allen

We spoke a bit about Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski‘s size when he declared for the draft back in April, thinking that while some may question his lack of size as a tackle, he would still follow his former college teammate Rashawn Slater in remaining at the tackle position. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, that’s no longer the case.

Breer says that, while he too initially thought a few teams would write Skoronski off as a guard, he’s finding that, now, few teams see him at tackle. At the NFL scouting combine, Skoronski measured at 6-foot-4, 313 pounds with an arm length of 32.25 inches. Comparatively, Slater measured at 6-foot-4, 304 pounds with an arm length of 33 inches in 2021.

Regardless of his position, Skoronski is regarded as one of maybe 12-13 players who “carry a true first-round grade” in the draft, according to Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network. While anything could happen, this means that no one sees a possibility where Skoronski falls to Day 2 of the draft next week.

Here are a few other rumors leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft:

We’ve heard comments about Alabama quarterback Bryce Young‘s size being a concern as he makes the transition to the NFL. A recent report by Joe Person of The Athletic seems to confirm that his height is not considered the issue, his weight is. Young weighed in at the combine at a surprising 204 pounds, just three pounds shy of Kyler Murray‘s combine weight. If he ends up going No. 1 overall, like many expect, it sounds like the Panthers have a plan in place to put some meat on his bones.
Many are under the impression that, after just severing their connections to their last first-round running back, Ezekiel Elliott, there is no way that the Cowboys would go right back and take Texas running back Bijan Robinson in the first round this year. Well, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, the team remains open to the possibility. Dallas’s executive vice president, Stephen Jones, emphasized that Robinson is almost certainly going on Day 1 of the draft and “you never know” if it’ll be the Cowboys who select him. With Tony Pollard coming off injury, the team may need a strong RB2 to help carry the load.
The Buccaneers are another team to keep an eye on for Robinson after he visited Tampa Bay recently, something he mentioned during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. With the departure of Leonard Fournette to free agency, the Buccaneers return last year’s third-round pick Rachaad White, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and Patrick Laird from last year’s rushing offense that ranked last in the NFL. They added Chase Edmonds in the offseason, but a top prospect like Robinson could be really valuable to Tampa Bay’s offense.

NFC Draft Rumors: Bucs, Commanders, 49ers, Seahawks

April 15th, 2023 at 3:18pm CST by Ely Allen

Every year, pundits and analysts debate the value of drafting a running back in first round. The Buccaneers are the latest to enter into this forum as they are reportedly considering doing just that, according to Buccaneers staff writer/reporter Brianna Dix.

The player in question for Tampa Bay is Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson is far and away the consensus top running back on the board. In three years with the Longhorns, Robinson totaled 3,410 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. While not his main mode of attack, he can hurt in the passing game as well, as evidenced by his 60 catches for 805 yards and eight touchdowns over his collegiate career.

No running backs were taken in the first round of last year’s draft, with Breece Hall being the first off the board in the second round, but two years ago, we saw two running backs taken on Day 1. Despite durability being a main cause of concern for rookie rushers, Najee Harris rewarded the Steelers with a league-leading 381 touches and a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie. Travis Etienne unfortunately had to sit out his rookie season, but his debut season with the Jaguars in 2022 was nearly as impressive as Harris’s rookie year, despite only starting 12 games.

Beyond last year, we’ve seen the Chiefs move past Clyde Edwards-Helaire in favor seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco. We’ve seen a first-team All-Pro honor for Josh Jacobs in Las Vegas. We’ve seen the rollercoasters of Saquon Barkley and Sony Michel‘s careers, as well as the disappointment of Rashaad Penny‘s. The debate continues on into 2023. There has certainly been both hits and misses with first-round running backs, but where will Robinson fall in that storyline?

Here are a few other draft rumors from around the NFC:

The Commanders have made it clear that they believe in second-year quarterback Sam Howell to take over the starting job in 2023, leading many to believe that taking a passer on Day 1 is off the table. According to ESPN’s John Keim, though, if a strong prospect like Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker is still available in the second or third round, Washington may not be able to pass them up. For the first round, though, it appears that the team has done their homework on the 2023 NFL Draft’s batch of offensive linemen. Jordan Reid, also of ESPN, specifically mentions Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones as a name that has been linked to the Commanders.
The 49ers received a healthy amount of compensatory draft picks, including three third round picks. It’s a good thing, too, because without them, San Francisco’s first 2023 draft pick wouldn’t come until late in the fifth round. Surprisingly, despite needs at both offensive line and defensive back, Matt Miller of ESPN is hearing that the 49ers have done more work studying tight ends that any other team in the league. The team has lauded the depth of this year’s draft class, and Miller notes that this is a historically great tight end class. He mentions Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker, South Dakota’s Tucker Kraft, and Old Dominion’s Zack Kuntz as potential options for San Francisco at the end of Day 2 who could end up working with George Kittle in the tight end room.
The Seahawks can go in a couple of different directions in the first round with both the No. 5 and 20 picks. They may keep their eyes on the available quarterbacks, if they fall in love with any, to sit for a year or so behind Geno Smith and Drew Lock. What Miller really sees them doing is taking advantage of a potential early run of quarterbacks to nab one of the draft’s top defensive linemen like Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. or Georgia’s Jalen Carter. If they don’t like any of their options at defensive line either, Miller reports that Seattle is reportedly in love with Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

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