Bijan Robinson is one of the hottest names heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. The former Texas standout is arguably one of the best running back prospects in recent memory, and for good reason.
Robinson burst onto the scene his freshman year in Austin, rushing for 806 yards on just 73 attempts. He followed that up with over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore and finished his career with 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns during his junior campaign.
Where Will Bijan Robinson End Up in the 2023 Draft?
Heading into the draft process, Robinson was head and shoulders above other running backs in the class, and he proved his worth during the NFL Combine. At 5’11”, 215 pounds, Robinson ran a blazing 4.46 40-yard dash and added a 37″ vertical to his résumé.
In the age of a declining running back value, where does Robinson fit in this year’s NFL Draft, and which teams will maximize his skills?
Philadelphia Eagles
An obvious answer, but the Philadelphia Eagles are the overall best fit for Robinson at the next level. After losing Miles Sanders in free agency, the Eagles signed Rashaad Penny to a one-year deal. However, Penny is far from a bell-cow RB and has often been injured throughout his career.
Robinson’s speed, power, and balance would add another dynamic to the Eagles’ offense. He can be a three-down back, a reliable pass catcher, and help take the load off of Jalen Hurts‘ shoulders.
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While Philadelphia may not take him at No. 10 overall, ESPN’s Matt Miller reports, “Running back comes up a lot when talking to both team and league sources about the Eagles’ draft plans.”
If Howie Roseman fails to find excellent value early in the draft, Robinson could be the easy answer.
Cincinnati Bengals
Odds are Robinson will be long gone by the 28th overall pick, but the Cincinnati Bengals would be hard-pressed to pass on the former Longhorn if he were available.
Bengals’ running back Joe Mixon is entering the second-to-last season of his four-year, $48 million contract he signed in 2020. If he were to be designated as a June 1st cut, Cincinnati would save over $10 million against the cap with only $2.5 million in dead money.
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Mixon has been on the outs in Cincinnati for quite some time. He played only 35% of the offensive snaps in last season’s AFC Championship Game, far too little for such an expensive player. Robinson would be the Day 1 starter in Cincinnati, allow the Bengals to cut Mixon, and allocate the cap and cash to the extensions of Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, or Logan Wilson.
Los Angeles Chargers
Running back is perhaps one of the more underrated team needs of the Los Angeles Chargers, but with Austin Ekeler’s trade request, it becomes much more pertinent.
The Chargers recently hired former Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore, for the same position. While Moore focuses on a downfield, vertical passing attack, he used Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to spell Dak Prescott’s arm while in Dallas.
Moore will look for much of the same during his tenure in LA and could use Robinson’s skills in the passing game to his advantage. Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian told Peter King that “Robinson could be a slot receiver, regularly, in the NFL.” Ekler was known for his skills out of the backfield, so if they were to move on, replacing him with Robinson could be perfect for the Chargers’ offense. Justin Herbert is the future of the Chargers’ offense, but pairing him with a blue-chip running back like Robinson may be the ticket to pushing Los Angeles over the playoff hump.