Cowboys Draft Texas RB Bijan Robinson? A New Dallas 'Identity'
The Eyes of Texas have been upon Bijan Robinson for the past three seasons. One NFL Network analyst is looking to extend that watch.
Robinson, an All-American rusher for the Texas Longhorns, is far and away the most coveted rushing prospect on the 2023 NFL Draft board. Super Bowl champion and former NFL fullback Michael Robinson (no relation) appeared on "NFL Total Access" to advocate for Bijan's continued Lone Star State prescience, namely through the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick at the upcoming NFL Draft.
With Dallas facing a major quandary at the running back spot ... the futures of both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard well in doubt... Michael Robinson encouraged the Cowboys to bid Elliott farewell and move forward with the "more explosive" Pollard and Bijan Robinson, who can help the team in its quest to "be a team that dominates the line of scrimmage running the football and allow(s) Dak Prescott to be special in his very Dak Prescott moments."
"He's a big kid, 220 pounds. I think he has tremendous feet, but he is a guy that ... gets better with carries, he's a big guy, and ... it goes back to the identity. If the Dallas Cowboys want to truly be a team that owns the line of scrimmage, then yes, I draft him, I let Ezekiel Elliott go, and you have a placeholder for when Tony Pollard comes back."
Pollard, fresh off a breakout season, will be recovering from ankle surgery after suffering a high ankle sprain during January's NFC Divisional Playoff in San Francisco. Dallas currently sits in the 27th slot on the draft board, which will be filled in Kansas City on Apr. 27-29. The Cowboys have not selected a running back in the first round since 2016 with Elliott's arrival at fourth overall. With 3,410 yards over three seasons in Austin, Robinson is the fourth-leading rusher in Longhorns history behind Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Earl Campbell.
Provided at least one of the Elliott/Pollard tandem stays, Bijan Robinson would be a definitive "best player available" type of selection for the Cowboys, who are looking to inch past the Divisional round barrier. Dallas has won 12 regular season games in each of the past two years, success partly founded upon their ground antics, which ranked ninth in the NFL last season.
We’re not sure we understand the “placeholder” concept; use pick No. 26 on Bijan only for the purpose of him being a “temp” while Pollard heals? That makes little sense. Replacing Pollard and Zeke with Bijan?
Now that would be an “identity” statement.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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