Falcons Draft Bijan Robinson: ‘Explosive!’ Grade, Analysis & Tyler Allgeier Impact
The Atlanta Falcons had the NFL's second-leading rookie rusher last season in Tyler Allgeier, who went from fifth-round pick to franchise rookie record holder with 1,035 yards.
Led by Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson and Caleb Huntley, the Falcons finished 2022 with the league's third-ranked rushing offense at just under 160 yards per game.
And yet, with the eighth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Falcons opted to select Texas running back Bijan Robinson.
A unanimous All-American and the winner of the Doak Walker Award given annually to college football's best running back, Robinson's resume is rewarding of the selection ... but does it makes sense considering the presence of Allgeier?
In the eyes of coach Arthur Smith, the answer is a resounding "yes." Allgeier, per Smith, is a "very important part" of Atlanta's offense and will continue to be - but he's different than Robinson.
Smith conceded that both Allgeier and Robinson are "yards after contact players," but the means that they go about doing so is "completely different," giving the Falcons offense another dynamic playmaker while affording Smith more flexibility in his personnel packages.
"Tyler is like someone that's got a sledgehammer and wears you down," Smith said. "But Bijan, his contact balance, the way he doesn't go down and the way he's able to get explosives off that, they're just different, the way that people will have to tackle them."
Another key factor is that Atlanta sees Robinson as having a legitimate role as a slot receiver in certain looks; it's something Smith noted as an intriguing part of his background.
During summer 7-on-7s as a high schooler, Robinson saw plenty of time in the slot, and part of the vision Atlanta discussed with him throughout the pre-draft process included seeing time as a receiver.
Robinson, who turned 21 in January, finished his college career with 805 receiving yards in three years, the third-most by a running back in Longhorns history.
It's why, per Smith, Robinson doesn't just fall under the category of running back and is instead an explosive offensive weapon.
"Bijan's more than a running back," Smith said. "He's an impact football player, he's a home-run hitter. ... He's a valuable football player."
For some, this was part of the drawback in drafting Robinson so high - the value of the modern running back isn't always viewed in the highest light around the league, and the presence of Allgeier threw some off.
Further, the idea of Atlanta being able to move down and accumulate more picks before drafting Robinson also arose - but the team didn't ultimately take the risk.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that he weighed trading down and had discussions of sliding back while on the clock but anticipated a small run on running backs, with Smith noting the Detroit Lions selection of Alabama tailback Jahmyr Gibbs four picks later as evidence that their fear was valid.
And with that, no regrets from Atlanta's decision makers.
"We feel pretty damn good about where we're at," Smith said.
Added Fontenot: "We believe in our building, we believe in our process."
For the grade, let's go with an A-, as Robinson will enter 2023 as a legitimate candidate for offensive rookie of the year and should prove to be a difference maker on a Falcons team intent on making a playoff push.
There are other needs greater than running back; the pass rush could've used some attention, and holes remain at left guard and receiver ... but position aside, Robinson's one of the few "special" talents in the draft class.
On a conference call with reporters before the scouting combine, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said that Robinson was "the most consistently highly graded player in the draft" across the league and "one of the five best players in the class."
One could argue positional value ... but how about simple value? Robinson will play out his entire rookie contract before turning 26 years old, giving him a longer outlook than other running backs, and enters as a ready-made impact player.
Smith said the Falcons want to find more balance between the run and pass in 2023 after a ground-heavy approach this past year, which is where Robinson's standing as "more than a running back" enters the fold.
The 5-11, 215-pound Robinson will be used in the screen game and on intermediate concepts, Smith said, in addition to the pre-snap deception with the number of versatile pieces on Atlanta's offense.
When drafting inside the top-10, the goal should be adding a slam-dunk asset both on the field and in the community, and Robinson easily checks both boxes.
The question ultimately becomes how much Robinson can lift the Falcons' ceiling after Smith's offense proved to be friendly for ballcarriers, but underneath the surface, this is the addition of a game-breaking player to an offense that already features a trio of young stars in Allgeier, tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London.
Atlanta now has a clear identity on offense - a youth movement of unique pieces, three of whom (all but Allgeier) were the highest-drafted player at their respective positions.
And for that, the Falcons' selection of Robinson passes the test. Now, it's up to Smith to maximize the talents of this group and prove Robinson's worth as an all-around "impact player."
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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