NFL Draft: Inside 'Amazing' Bijan Robinson Falcons Visit
Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot sat at the podium Thursday night, just a few hours removed from drafting Texas running back Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The theme of the press conference was Robinson's versatility and character - the Falcons fell in love with both throughout the pre-draft process.
But what led to it? When was the moment Smith and Fontenot knew they had their guy?
Those answers are less clear. The easiest explanation, per Fontenot, is to take the broad approach, starting with high grades from the Falcons' area scouts during the season and building on those with each interaction.
But perhaps the moment came when several members of Atlanta' staff - Smith, Fontenot, offensive coordinator Dave Ragone, director of player personnel Kyle Smith and strength coach Thomas Stallworth - flew to Austin for a private workout with Robinson.
The two sides were already familiar with one another after having a positive formal meeting at the NFL Combine, with Robinson noting that he loved his time spent with the staff.
This also wasn't Kyle Smith's first trip to see Robinson, as we're told that he and director of college scouting Anthony Robinson traveled to watch Texas host Iowa State in mid-October. The 5-11, 215-pound Robinson starred, totaling 171 all-purpose yards in the Longhorns' victory.
But fast forward to this spring - all the film had been watched and Atlanta was well aware of what it had in Robinson ... but had to figure him out as an individual.
When the Falcons' brass arrived in Texas, they met up with Robinson the night before the workout and went to dinner at Terry Black's barbecue, a popular spot throughout the state.
They were joined by Falcons defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham, a former Longhorn standout in his own right and past teammate of Robinson.
Evidently, the barbecue lived up to expectations, as Smith, on the draft-night call, requested that Robinson bring some with him to Atlanta ... if for nobody else than Graham.
"TQ went with us to that barbecue place and got the biggest rib I think I've ever seen," Smith said. "This thing was like a dinosaur. TQ hammered that one away."
Smith, a Memphis native, has seen his fair share of barbecue but remains in awe over the rib he saw Graham "hammer." But that takeaway was really just the first of many for Atlanta's third-year regime.
The Falcons view Robinson as an "explosive weapon" who's "more than a running back," with Smith citing his background of playing in the slot as being an "intriguing" element.
But as Fontenot and Smith pointed out, there were several outstanding football players available when the No. 8 pick rolled around.
Robinson differentiated himself over the course of those two days, leaving a lasting impression with his character, first and foremost ... in part due to the presence of Graham.
"You can see their interactions and how close they were as friends," Smith said. "But just those interactions - it's real, it's genuine, it's not one of these phony, 'hey, I'm made for Instagram or whatever social media, I'm going to look good,' and then the guy's a complete fraud. This kid's authentic, he's real. He's got a unique story."
Work on Robinson continued with a variety of meetings inside the Longhorns buildings, including coach Steve Sarkisian. Fontenot praised Texas for being "welcoming" and allowing full access to Atlanta's staff on the visit even with spring practices taking place.
This was all simply a part of helping the Falcons feel as if Robinson was the right guy - something Sarkisian, who was Atlanta's offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018, heavily contributed to.
Despite having many mutual friends, Smith and Sarkisian didn't know of each other personally ahead of time. The two spent plenty of time together during Atlanta's visit, with Sarkisian ultimately giving a "great" reference regarding Robinson.
For Smith, the opportunity to speak with Sarkisian was a key selling point and another instance of where the possibility of drafting Robinson truly arose, as the more he heard, the more he liked.
"I've had plenty of other coaches, they sell you (on players), and that's their job, (but) they may leave out some things," Smith said. "You find later like, 'oh, I wish I would've known that' - that's not the case with Bijan and anything Sark told us.
"It wasn't just about the player; it was about the impact he had on the locker room (and) the leadership he had."
The barbecue dinner and meeting with Sarkisian had the Falcons falling for Robinson - and the signs merely continued popping up.
Fontenot said that, upon entering the Longhorns' facility, there's a picture of Jerry Gray, who the Falcons hired this offseason as the assistant head coach of the defense; prior to his professional playing and coaching days, Gray was an All-American defensive back at Texas.
There were jokes made about Gray's hair, but nonetheless, another moment in which things just felt right with Robinson.
The actual workout went as expected, with Robinson putting on a show and leaving the Falcons feeling much like they did after a similar visit with their eventual first-round pick last year in Drake London.
Smith said that he "felt really good" about Robinson's workout, with Fontenot adding the opportunity to "see him in person" was important as Atlanta finalized its evaluation on the 21-year-old.
From the Falcons' side, everything was positive - and Robinson concurred, noting the conversations were "always super solid, super great."
Smith, Ragone and Fontenot sold Robinson on the idea of playing in the slot, which he's done in the past, along with being used in the screen and intermediate games ... on top of his obvious impact as a runner.
The two sides went over several things on the visit, both on and off the field, but the overall takeaway remained the same for each - the personalities meshed at a very high level.
"When they came down to Austin, we had an amazing time talking about scheme, what could happen, what we could do," said Robinson. "When we were getting to really know each other, they're all great guys to work with and I'm just really happy that they took me and that they gave me a chance to make something happen."
As the Falcons seek to soar to new heights after spending heavy money on defense during the offseason, adding Robinson to the mix gives Smith another dynamic playmaker who can be used in a multitude of ways.
Smith has spoken in the past about positionless players and values the flexibility in looks that Robinson provides, as the Falcons can run the same players onto the field but name it 11, 12, 22 or empty personnel.
But that much was already known before the two-hour flight to Austin. What the Falcons didn't know was just how special - and authentic - Robinson's personality is.
It was a similar experience for Robinson, who felt fondly of the Falcons organization after his Combine meeting and his feelings confirmed following the visit in Austin.
"It was a super great opportunity to be with them, to meet with them, show them what I got," Robinson said. "It was pretty amazing."
And evidently, Robinson showed quite a bit - perhaps as much as the meat on the bone of Graham's ribs or the laundry list of compliments Sarkisian showered him with.
This was just one part of Atlanta's multi-year evaluation of Robinson, but the confirmation of ideas and opportunities to gather more information might've sealed the deal.
From Terry Black's barbecue to Jerry Gray's picture and everything else in between, the Falcons' trip to Austin was a memorable one ... and culminated in the most important 24-hour stretch in Atlanta's pre-draft process that ultimately netted a game-breaking talent.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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