Longhorns RB Bijan Robinson to Bills? Why Draft Pick Makes Sense
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Barring a trade, the Buffalo Bills are set to make their first selection late in the opening round at No. 27 overall. The team could take multiple routes with the first pick, and it's anyone's guess who Bills general manager Brandon Bean has his eye on.
But one consistent name that keeps popping up as the Bills' potential first-round pick is that of Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson. And at a time of year where predictions, projections and everything else of the sort runs amuck, Robinson to Buffalo continues to look like a realistic pairing due to the combination of where the Bills are making their first pick and the needs of each in front of them.
In a mock draft released by Yahoo Sports on Thursday, the Bills are once again projected to snag Robinson at a spot where he might just be too good to pass up on.
NFL.com, NFL Network, Pro Football Focus and The Ringer are just a few of the other sites that have projected the Bills to select Robinson. See the trend?
But here's why this prediction continues to be one that makes sense for Buffalo ...
The Bills, who could potentially lose running back Devin Singletary in free agency, haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017 and will need to take some of the load off of Josh Allen's legs. The team seemed to have an eye on remedying this issue last April by selecting running back James Cook in the second round, but he continued to find himself in a timeshare this past season.
Beane has even admitted that he wants to see Allen, his star quarterback, take fewer hits and "bruises," meaning a selection of Robinson, another running back or an offensive lineman is a real possibility at No. 27.
But after one look at his highlight tape, Bills Mafia and the front office alike might be given no choice but to prefer Robinson over selecting an o-lineman.
As has been a theme in most mock drafts, Robinson is once again the first running back off the board, and for good reason.
The winner of the 2022 Doak Walker Award this past season, which annually honors the nation's best running back, Robinson led the Big 12 in carries (258), rushing yards (1,580) and rushing touchdowns (18) during the regular season. He also led the nation with 1,894 total scrimmages yards (1,580 rushing, 314 receiving) and was second in total touchdowns (20).
The talent, numbers, eye test and personality are all off the charts for Robinson. And while taking a running back in the first round certainly comes with its risks, Beane's comments along with Buffalo's current running back situation makes this "mock" prediction more realistic than the hundreds of others that turn out to be swing and misses.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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