The 2022 NFL Draft was rare. No running back was selected in the first round and nobody from the University of Texas was selected at any point.
In 2023, that changed.
With the No. 8 pick, the Atlanta Falcons selected Bijan Robinson, who rushed for 1,580 yards for the Longhorns during the 2022 season.
A running back goes in the top-10! The Atlanta Falcons take Bijan Robinson at No. 8. 🏈 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/dHgD4l8SSF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 28, 2023
Robinson is the first running back to be selected in the top-10 since 2018, when the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall.
Naturally, this was a head-turning move. It got the attention of NBA superstar and Texas alum, Kevin Durant.
Congrats @Bijan5Robinson
One of the greatest I’ve ever seen put on that burnt orange. @AtlantaFalcons got a star!! Let’s go
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 28, 2023
Durant was not the only one to weigh in.
What a scary offense the Falcons are going to have. Kyle Pitts. Drake London. Tyler Allgeier. Bijan Robinson.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 28, 2023
Bijan Robinson is a top-10 player in this draft.
Kyle Pitts, Drake London and now Robinson — second-year QB Desmond Ridder certainly won't lack for options.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 28, 2023
The Atlanta Falcons just took the best player in this years draft. Bijan Robinson in the ATL will be a TREAT.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 28, 2023
Bijan Robinson is a generational talent and now with the #Falcons he is worthy of being a Top 10 (5?) RB in fantasy drafts – expect him to go in round 1 often! He could lead the league in rushing in this system
Bijan, Pitts, and Drake London is such a fun young core! Get excited
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) April 28, 2023
Robinson also figures to be a threat in the receiving game as well. During the 2022 season, he caught 19 passes for 314 yards with two touchdowns at Texas.
What’s particularly interesting here is that as good as Robinson projects to be, running back was not a particular weakness for the Falcons in 2022. Tyler Allgeier rushed for 1,035 yards as a rookie. Cordarrelle Patterson also had a solid season on the ground, rushing for 695 yards.
Running backs being taken this early is rare in the modern game. The exceptions tend to be players going to a team with real issues running the ball.
That said, if the Falcons were looking to draft a playmaker and the best player available, they likely accomplished both.
