Falcons Drafting for “Who,” Not “What” with Bijan Robinson Selection

The running back position in the NFL has never been valued less than it is today. Eight days ago, the Atlanta Falcons became the first team to draft a running back inside the top-10 picks of the NFL Draft since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley in 2018. Not only has it been five years since the Giants took Barkley in the top 10, but we have yet to see a running back selected inside the top 20 since. In fact, only four running backs have been inside the first round since 2018.

The Steelers and Jaguars selected Najee Harris and Travis Etienne No. 24-25 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Chiefs took Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the 32nd and final pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, and the Raiders selected Josh Jacobs with the No. 24 pick in the 2019 draft.

The Falcons could have filed a need with the eighth overall pick in the draft last week. The Falcons “needed” a cornerback, an edge rusher, or a guard. Christian Gonzalez was on the board, and so was every other cornerback, save for Devon Witherspoon. They could have taken Jalen Carter or Peter Skoronski. They could have taken any number of players that would have been excellent answers to their perceived needs.

However, Atlanta wasn’t drafting for the “what” but for the “who” at No. 8, a philosophy I’ve championed when discussing how teams should attack the top 10 picks in the NFL Draft. Bijan Robinson was that guy. Aside from the quarterbacks, and maybe Jalen Carter and Will Anderson Jr., there wasn’t a more obvious NFL talent in the draft than Bijan Robinson.

“There are a million ways to do it. The thing that we focus on the most is, ‘It ain’t about what, it’s about who,” Falcons director of player personnel Kyle Smith said on Wednesday. “When it comes to Bijan (Robinson), the player, the skill set, the versatility, the impact as a player and a person, it was an easy pick, man. It really was.”

Robinson racked up 3,410 rushing yards, 805 receiving yards and scored 41 touchdowns in a three-year career at Texas. He was the fifth-best prospect in the draft according to Dane Brugler and many other draft experts.

Some have wondered why the Falcons would spend that type of draft capital on Robinson in this era of running backs. Particularly when they have a talented running back in Tyler Allgeier, whom they drafted last year with the 151st pick in the NFL Draft. Allgeier ran for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie fifth-rounder. That’s the way this position is handled these days. You find a low-cost acquisition running back (more often than not, two of them) and make it work for cheap these days. The Falcons did that last year.

But let’s make one thing crystal clear, and I mean no disrespect to him: Tyler Allgeier is no Bijan Robinson.

Bijan Robinson is a Madden NFL-like human juke machine with endless home run potential. He is the rare breed of bell-cow and three-down running back you don’t see much in the NFL these days. You can’t afford to have him off of the field. He was that good in college and has that ceiling in the NFL.

The Falcons intend to maximize Robinson’s involvement by utilizing him as a versatile playmaker instead of a typical running back.

“I think he can do a lot of different things and that’s one of the things that when you put on the tape and wherever he is on the field he does, he makes impacts,” Falcons GM Terry Fontenot said (via PFT). “If he’s at receiver, if he’s in the slot, you’re going to worry about him. You better make sure you have a plan for him. Coordinators have to make sure they have a plan for him or if he’s in the backfield, but when you just go through our players on our roster, we have other players that are the same way. You don’t know where they’re going to line up and exactly what they’re going to do, so that’s the fun part about it.”

The Falcons spent big in free agency, and they’ve drafted well in recent years. Drake London and Kyle Pitts have become playmakers in the last two drafts. Bijan joins a backfield that includes Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson. The big question in 2023 will be whether or not they made the right call sticking with Desmond Ridder.

However, the Falcons aren’t relying on Ridder putting on an air raid attack to lead the Falcons to wins. Instead, they plan to run over their opponents and kill them with speed and brute force in the trenches.

“I think to your point, you have to have a clear plan of exactly what you’re going to do and how you’re going to utilize that particular player.” Fontenot said. “That’s what’s fun about [it]. We do really like the players in our running back room, whether we’re talking about Tyler or C.P. and all the different things that they can do. I have a lot of confidence in our coaching staff from our head coach Arthur Smith and our offensive coordinator Dave Ragone. You go all the way down to coaching staff, we have some really smart people in the building and we have clear visions and clear plans for everyone on our roster. When we get excited about a player and know the impact he’s going to make, obviously you factor all those things in, usage and mileage and all those things, but we have a very clear plan and clear vision of how it’s going to all come together.”

The Falcons’ 159.9 rushing yards per game were second in the NFL in 2022. Adding Robinson to the mix has the Falcons in a position to have the NFL’s most fearsome rushing attack. Furthermore, Atlanta’s compilation of playmakers has them primed for a run at an NFC South title this year.

written by

Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

more nfl news

Arizona Cardinals Big Board: Potential First-Round Fits

The Arizona Cardinals are coming off a tough season that saw plenty of losses. Just like any rebuilding team though, there are reasons to be hopeful. New head coach Jonathan Gannon seems to be well liked by the team. He...

Baltimore Ravens 7-Round Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is right around the corner, and we're putting together a Baltimore Ravens 7-Round Mock Draft today. Baltimore Ravens 7-Round Mock Draft Round 1, Pick 30: WR Roman Wilson, Michigan Lamar Jackson is the reigning AP and PFWA...

Atlanta Falcons 7-Round Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is right around the corner, and we're putting together an Atlanta Falcons 7-Round Mock Draft today. The Falcons have seven picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and will be looking to fill out their roster around new...

Arizona Cardinals 7-Round Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is right around the corner, and we're putting together an Arizona Cardinals 7-Round Mock Draft today. The Cardinals have 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including two first-round picks and three third-round picks, giving them plenty...

Falcons Send Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals for Another Wide Receiver

The Atlanta Falcons have been doing everything right this week. On Monday, they solved their quarterback problem by signing Kirk Cousins, making Desmond Ridder expendable. Today, Atlanta traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals for another wide receiver, Rondale Moore. Atlanta...

NFL Free Agency Winners & Losers: Texans Among the Big Winners; Cowboys Go MIA, More

While NFL free agency isn't "over," most teams around the league have completed the brunt of the heavy lifting. So, let's discuss some NFL free agency winners and losers.  NFL Free Agency Winners and Losers NFL Free Agency Winners Vikings...

Mike Williams Landing Spots in 2024: Patriots, Chiefs, and Giants Among Best Fits

In a move many didn't see coming, the Los Angeles Chargers released wide receiver Mike Williams on Wednesday, March 13th, saving a whopping $20 million against their salary cap. He's now free to test out the NFL waters to determine...

NFL Free Agency Tracker: Live Updates, Rumors, Signings and Trades

As the clock ticks down to the start of the 2024 NFL Free Agency period, football fans eagerly await the flurry of activity set to unfold in the coming days. Stay up to date with our live NFL Free Agency...

Derrick Henry Signs with the Baltimore Ravens

According to multiple reports, Derrick Henry has agreed to a two-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Henry confirmed the news by posting on social media that he is excited to join "Flock Nation." Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports Derrick Henry's contract...

The Panthers are Trading Brian Burns to the New York Giants

The Carolina Panthers are sending star pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants in a trade this afternoon. Ian Rapoport confirmed the trade and extension for Burns, but local Panthers beat reporter Sheena Quick was the first to...

Latest News

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Minnesota Timberwolves (47-21) are underdogs (+7) as they try to build on a three-game win streak when they host the Denver Nuggets (47-21) at 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Target Center. The game airs on...

Mavericks vs. Spurs Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Southwest Division opponents square off when the Dallas Mavericks (39-29) visit the San Antonio Spurs (15-53) at AT&T Center, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The Mavericks are 8.5-point favorites in the game, the fourth...

Pelicans vs. Nets Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Brooklyn Nets (26-42) will try to break a three-game losing streak when they host the New Orleans Pelicans (41-26) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Barclays Center as 8.5-point underdogs. The matchup airs at 7:30 PM ET on YES....

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Minnesota Timberwolves (47-21) are 7-point underdogs as they try to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the Denver Nuggets (47-21) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Target Center. The contest airs at 9:00 PM ET on NBA....

Canucks vs. Sabres Prediction: Live Odds, Stats, History and Picks – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The oddsmakers give the edge to the Vancouver Canucks on home ice (-198) over the Buffalo Sabres (+164) when they play on Tuesday, March 19 at 10:00 PM ET.Canucks vs. Sabres Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Canucks (-198)Underdog: Sabres (+164)Total: 6Best Canucks...

OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

more nfl news