Eagles' Bijan Robinson Hype Flames Out, Select Jalen Carter at No. 9
Bijan Robinson will have a bird on his helmet in 2023, it just won't be a Philadelphia Eagle.
The Atlanta Falcons selected the former University of Texas running back with the No. 8 overall pick, two spots before the Eagles were slated to go on the clock at No. 10. However, the Eagles quickly traded up with the Chicago Bears at No. 9, swapping picks to take Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
While there's little doubt from here that Robinson will be productive in Arthur Smith's offense, it is a bit of a questionable selection to make before you have your franchise quarterback, or at least before you know if Desmond Ridder can fill that role. The danger for the Falcons now is that Robinson is so productive that the Falcons end up picking in the middle of the first round each year, making it difficult to draft a franchise quarterback if Ridder doesn't end up panning out.
Assuming Carter is able to stay out of trouble off this field, it's very likely that he'll have more longevity than Robinson, just based on the nature of the running back position. And Carter may very well be the best overall football player in this year's draft, which is why there was once a thought he could be the No. 1 overall pick.
But in terms of immediate impact for a Super Bowl-caliber roster, Robinson would have been a hell of an addition to a skill-position group that also includes A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. And as long as he's in the NFL, Eagles fans will wonder what could have been if Robinson made it by the Falcons.
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