Eagles Draft: Four Elite Years from Bijan Robinson Worth No. 10 Pick?
If the Philadelphia Eagles use the No. 10 overall pick on Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson, there's little doubt that he'll be one of the best running backs in the NFL in 2023 and for the next few seasons.
However, the Eagles have built a core of players that includes Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham, former first-round picks that have spent more than a decade with the team. Because of the nature of the running back position, Robinson wouldn't have that type of longevity with the Eagles if selected.
Of course, there's no guarantee any player drafted would have a lengthy career similar to the aforementioned trio of Johnson, Cox and Graham, three of the best players in franchise history. But if general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles select a running back, they would be passing up the opportunity to land a player that becomes a stalwart for the team for a decade or longer. And ideally, it will be a long time before the organization has a pick this high again.
At the same time, it's impossible to ignore Robinson's potential. Robinson ran for 1,580 yards and scored 20 total touchdowns in his final season at Texas. The Draft Network has Robinson rated as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2023 class, noting that he "has the potential to be one of the rare running backs that can single-handedly carry a team to wins."
On one hand, the Eagles have an elite offensive line and the threat of Jalen Hurts keeping the ball himself is another added advantage to being a running back in this offense. It's entirely possible that the Eagles could strike gold with a mid-round pick and remain an elite rushing attack when adding said pick to Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott.
On the other hand, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert are -- at least -- top 10 players at their respective positions currently. Even with the loss of Issac Suemalo, the offensive line may very well be the best in the league in 2023. Imagine what Nick Sirianni's offense could do for the next few seasons if they had an elite running back.
The Dallas Cowboys used the No. 4 overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott and he played seven seasons with the team. For the first four seasons of Elliott's career, there's a case to be made that he was the best running back in the sport. He's hit a wall since, which is why the Cowboys released him last month.
The three players selected after Elliott -- Jalen Ramsey, Ronnie Stanley and DeForest Buckner -- are also star players that will likely hang around in the league much longer than Elliott. But Elliott ran for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Cowboys. It's hard to think that Jerry Jones and company regret picking Elliott.
If Robinson is capable of making the type of impact that Elliott did for four or five seasons, it may very well force the hand of the Eagles to give him a second contract that they'll live to regret, as the Cowboys did with Elliott. But if he gives them the best opportunity to win a Super Bowl or two during his rookie contract, it would be hard to pass up on Robinson given where the Eagles are as an organization.
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