Bijan Robinson was drafted 8th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Atlanta Falcons continue to hoard first-round draft picks on offense.
The Falcons selected Texas running back Bijan Robinson with the number 8 pick in the 2023 NFL draft Thursday night. Robinson joins Drake London in first round in 2022 and Kyle Pitts in first round in 2021 on Atlanta offense.
Robinson is the first running back to be drafted into the top 10 since the New York Giants picked Saquon Barkley in 2018 with the No. 2 pick overall and is only the fifth running back in the first round since the Giants picked Barkley .
Robinson was phenomenal in Texas, rushing for 1,580 yards and adding 314 receiving yards in 12 games in 2022. He was widely considered one of the best overall players available in the draft, but his first-round placement was uncertain as NFL teams have begun to value running back position.
The Falcons weren’t about giving up a big pick for Robinson. After all, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith came from Tennessee, where he ran a run-heavy offense with Derrick Henry and knows how a star running back can fuel an offense.
Smith also knows how productive a late-round rookie can be. Tyler Allgeier ran for 1,035 yards in 2022 after being picked up in the fifth round a year ago. With Robinson’s arrival, he’s now likely relegated to the No. 2 role in the Atlanta backfield.
Robinson and Allgeier immediately form a great rushing combination that can take the pressure off sophomore quarterback Desmond Ridder. The former Cincinnati QB made four starts at the end of his rookie season in 2022 and is expected to be the team’s starter in early 2023.
And now with Robinson in the crease, Ridder has another high draft pick to get the ball to. Robinson has the ability to make a big impact in the passing game as well and can complement both London and Pitts.
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