Texas Longhorns running back prospect Bijan Robinson is among one of the biggest enigmas in the NFL Draft just ahead of Draft Day. The skilled running back is undoubtedly one of the best talents the draft has to offer, but running backs historically do not go high in the first round. Still, the Bijan Robinson NFL Draft odds show the Atlanta Falcons may end up sacrificing their first round pick to make him their brightest offensive weapon for years to come.
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Bijan Robinson NFL Draft Odds: Falcons Eyeing Running Back
DraftKings Sportsbook has released odds on where some top prospects will land. The Falcons (+150) lead the way in the Bjian Robinson NFL Draft odds. Atlanta is followed by the Philadelphia Eagles (+300), Houston Texans (+500), Dallas Cowboys (+1000) and Chicago Bears (+1000).
The Falcons hold the No. 8 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and then do not select again until the No. 44 pick, when Robinson will be long gone. Sure, they may be reaching to select a running back with their first round pick, but perhaps Robinson is worth the risk. The Falcons brass of head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot met with Robinson ahead of the draft.
“Yeah, I mean, the Falcons, that’s a great organization, great coaches,” Robinson said, per SI. “I had a chance to meet with them, as well – it was an awesome meeting. I kind of see where that’s going in, where that’s headed at.
There are a lot of reasons to think Robinson will be a star at the next level. First off, he only carried the ball 539 times throughout his college career, so wear and tear should not be an issue. And more importantly, he profiles as everything you would want in a running back. He had 3, 410 yards and 33 touchdowns during his illustrious career at Texas, adding 60 catches for 805 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Falcons got solid production out of their running back tandem of Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier last season, with Allgeier rushing over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign. But Patterson, 32, now enters the final year of his contract, and Smith may be looking at pairing Robinson with Allgeier to help make sure his run-first approach remains successful in the future.
Atlanta has many needs they could look to fill with the No. 8 pick (including quarterback). But based on the Bijan Robinson NFL Draft odds, they’ll consider adding the most dynamic play-maker to their backfield on Thursday night.
