Bijan Robinson is widely considered the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley. I’d go as far as to say Robinson is better than the former second-overall pick. His rare ability to consistently make a mountain out of a molehill has NFL scouts salivating. With the current state of the running back position in today’s NFL, Bijan Robinson will not be a top-five pick like Barkley was but will be drafted anywhere between 1.09 and 1.31.
Which team is best equipped to draft one of the league's best backs? Where will Bijan Robinson land?
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Dallas Cowboys, Pick 26
2022 Offensive Scoring: 5th
First, let’s get everyone’s pipe dream out of the way. Many reputable mock drafts have Robinson landing with the Cowboys at pick 26. With the unceremonious release of long-time cornerstone Ezekiel Elliott and the application of the franchise tag to Tony Pollard, this marriage makes a ton of sense. The only issue is whether Dallas is willing to invest in a first-round back after the contract situation they just got out of with Elliott. Not to mention the fact that pick 26 puts them in prime territory to take a wide receiver which is one of their greatest positions of need.
For fantasy implications, this landing spot would be incredible. If Robinson is available in the late teens, it is likely a team would trade ahead of Dallas to acquire his rights. If he makes it to 26, it would be difficult for the Cowboys to pass on him, but that doesn’t make him a lock to join America’s team.
Tennessee Titans, Pick 11
2022 Offensive Scoring: 23rd
Thanks to the NFL’s recent devaluation of running backs, the Titans will likely get a shot at Robinson outside the top 10. What they may not have a shot at is an elite quarterback. Ryan Tannehill is in the last season of his contract, with no rumors of an extension. There are rumors, however, that the Titans may trade up to pick 3. With C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young likely to go one and two, there isn’t a quarterback worthy of the third spot between Anthony Richardson and Will Levis.
It is far more likely the Titans plan for their future by drafting Robinson as their heir apparent to Derrick Henry at pick 11. This would allow Mike Vrable to maintain his physical style of offense past the resolution of Henry’s contract. It also makes life significantly easier for whatever quarterback they select in the 2024 draft.
Philadelphia Eagles, Pick 10 and Pick 30
2022 Offensive Scoring: 2nd
Every team in the NFC East has had Robinson mocked to them, but only two are truly viable. The Eagles have the 10th and 30th picks. Given Howie Roseman’s affinity for the trenches and their numerous aging legends on both sides of the line, it’s highly unlikely they will take Robinson with pick 10. Their offensive and defensive lines ranked tops in the league in essentially every category last season, and that doesn’t feel like something they’re willing to sacrifice. With the likes of Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Brandon Graham, and Fletcher Cox close to hanging it up, expect the Eagles to invest in one of the big men at pick 10.
This leaves us with pick 30. It would be a shock to even the most casual of fans if Robinson made it this deep into the draft. Roseman is no stranger to wheeling and dealing, as demonstrated on Draft Night last year. If Robinson starts to fall into the late teens, the Eagles could be that team that trades up ahead of Dallas to rob their division rival of a generational talent.
Los Angeles Chargers, Pick 21
2022 OFFENSIVE SCORING: 11th
If Robinson makes it out of the teens, it’s unlikely he will make it past pick 21. The Chargers have drafted a running back each season since the departure of Melvin Gordon in 2019. Between Larry Rountree, John Kelly, and Isiah Spiller, they have not found a solution. The common denominator between each of those backs is their late-round draft capital. The recent reports that Austin Ekeler has been permitted to request a trade could be the motivation the Chargers need to finally invest significant capital in the position. Los Angeles would love to pair an incredible back with Ekeler, but they may need more than just a 1B if he decides to take his talents elsewhere.
Arizona Cardinals, Pick 3
2022 OFFENSIVE SCORING: 22nd
The general consensus around the league is that the Cardinals will trade back from their third overall pick with a team desperate to reach on a quarterback. Given the number of holes Arizona must fill, it’s fair to assume they’d be willing to trade outside the top 10. That would put them in prime territory to draft Robinson to pair with the newly extended Kyler Murray. Most of the league has written Arizona off. Still, there is a world where they enter the second half of the season with an explosive offense featuring a healthy Murray paired with Marquise Brown and Bijan Robinson.
Even with the NFL’s unwillingness to take a back in the top half of the draft, Robinson is going to be too enticing to pass up. I expect him to go somewhere between pick 11 and pick 19. Even at a non-premium position, he is talented enough to warrant trading up. Considering most teams have less than 20 first-round grades on their board in a given draft, there’s not much of a chance for Robinson to get to anyone outside the teens.