A sight that teams representing the NFC don’t want to see heading into the 2023 NFL Draft: The conference champion Philadelphia Eagles adding to their already explosive ground game through potential top-10 pick Bijan Robinson.
Could the Eagles Take Bijan Robinson at No. 10?
Already, there’s the rumbling from Akbar Gbaja-Biamila that Derrick Henry is heading to the NFC champs. But now there’s the new thought of the Eagles adding a younger, versatile, and explosive option come Thursday with one of their two first-round picks — filling a major need in the process on Day 1.
Per NFL Network insider James Palmer on Monday, he’s spoken to executives who don’t want to think about the sight of Robinson falling to the Eagles.
“I’ll just say this. A couple NFC teams I talked to this weekend DO NOT want the Eagles to draft RB Bijan Robinson,” Palmer shared. “They believe that will make this offense beyond scary.”
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The Longhorns running back is labeled the No. 3 overall prospect by Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline. PFN’s Ian Cummings additionally wrote in his scouting report that Robinson offers the best chance for an RB to get selected in the opening round, also calling him a top-three talent.
Robinson is already the antithesis of a one-dimensional back before he enters the league. At Texas, he gashed defenses to the tune of 1,580 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 314 receiving yards and two more scores in the aerial game.
For Eagles fans, think of a potential Miles Sanders type, especially since both he and Robinson are 5’11″… except Robinson comes equipped with 4.46 speed in the 40-yard dash and leaps 37″ in the vertical jump. Robinson instantly becomes the more than suitable replacement for Sanders, who is now a Carolina Panther.
Robinson will also add a new set of dangerous legs in a room that still has Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and dual-threat passer Jalen Hurts — all of whom averaged more than four yards a carry last season. Robinson’s potential addition would get defensive coordinators losing hours of sleep thinking about how to counter the Eagles’ ground game.
What Does That Mean for Derrick Henry?
The news of the Eagles’ rumored interest in Robinson, though, brings forth this question: Does this mean Henry won’t be coming after all?
Despite Gbaja-Biamila’s post indicating Henry is heading to Philly, Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon claimed to the Nashville media Monday that he has not received trade calls for the perennial Pro Bowl running back.
“It is what it is,” Carthon said Monday. “I know people have a job to do to speculate and put things out and hope that it sticks, hope that they’re right.”
Any team that does attempt to trade Henry would likely encounter taking on his $10.5 million base salary for the upcoming season. Henry officially doesn’t become an unrestricted free agent until the 2024 offseason.
Even if the Eagles opt for Robinson come Thursday, Palmer says this would be considered a trend breaker for the general manager.
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“Now, this would be outside of the norm for Howie Roseman. We know the Eagles and the way he builds this team from the inside out. They work from the trenches,” Palmer said.
However, the Eagles could be looking at this draft as a “strike while the iron is hot” situation based on Roseman’s presser from a week ago.
“But, if you look at what he said in his press conference last week, they don’t think they’ll be picking this high in the draft in the next several years,” Palmer continued. “They feel they need to hit on a unique talent that can make an impact right away but also said they needed to be open-minded when looking at No. 10.”
Again, the very thought of Robinson potentially wearing Philadelphia’s colors has brought a mix of energetic thoughts from Eagles fans to fearful thoughts from other executives.
“There’s people who believe this pick would change their offense. And with what owner Jeffrey Lurie said at the owner’s meeting, you have to have a dynamic offense. And you add another piece around Jalen Hurts, there’s the thought around the league that this will be a very difficult offense to stop,” Palmer said.