FLOWERY BRANCH — Texas’ Bijan Robinson was considered the best running back in the draft and a top-five talent.
The Falcons selected the best player available on their board when they picked Thursday night, and it was Robinson.
“Bijan, we hold him in high regard on the field, off the field,” Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said. “We talk about position-less football, the versatility, the impact that he’s going to make for us. We’re extremely excited to get Bijan at eight.”
Robinson was in Kansas City for the draft.
“It’s such an exciting feeling,” Robinson said in a virtual call with the Atlanta media. “I’ve got to thank God for blessing me to be on the Falcons, man. It’s super exciting. I’m speechless. I just can wait to see what happens.”
He’s a dynamic running back with pass-catching ability. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay compared Robinson with former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, who was selected second overall in 2018 by the New York Giants.
“Bijan is more than a running back,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “He’s an impactful football player. He’s a home-run hitter.”
The Falcons visited Robinson after the NFL owner’s meeting was held in Phoenix. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, formerly an offensive coordinator with the Falcons under Dan Quinn, was helpful.
“Bijan is a really special player. As I’ve said all along, he’s a better human being than football player, which is hard for a lot of guys when you’re that talented,” Sarkisian told Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods.com. “He has unbelievable work ethic, outstanding leadership, he’s team captain-worthy, and has Pro Bowl ability. He checks all the boxes.
“The Atlanta Falcons are getting a uniquely versatile player. He can run between the tackles, run outside the tackles, make people miss in tight quarters. He’s got great contact balance, is an excellent receiver and has a high football IQ. You name it, he’s got it.
“All of those things make him truly special from a running back perspective. But on top of that, he’ll be an awesome teammate, great in their locker room, tremendous in the community and just someone that they’ll be so proud of to have in their organization. We absolutely love him so much here and can’t wait to watch him in the NFL.”
In subsequent drafts after 2018, the running back position was devalued.
Why would the Falcons take a running back a year after they selected Tyler Allgeier in the fifth round? He went on to rush for 1,035 yards in his rookie season.
The Falcons have said they never want to reach for needs. They don’t really need a running back, but if Robinson is as good as advertised, taking him made sense.
“I think it will be (a defensive) player,” one high-ranking AFC official said about the Falcons’ plight. “Many to choose from. Wisdom says a pass rusher. Either Nolan Smith or Tyree Wilson. Personally, I think they would be (unwise) to pass (on the) Texas (tailback).”
Draft experts remember that Packers Hall of Fame general manager Ron Wolf selected Aaron Rodgers when he already had Brett Favre.
The Falcons finished third in the league in rushing as they averaged 159.9 yards per game last season.
The Falcons now can pair Robinson with Allgeier. Cordarrelle Patterson and Avery Williams can help to form out the committee, while Caleb Huntley tried to make his way back from a ruptured Achilles injury.
“I know the rushing attack is really, really good,” Robinson said. “With a really good running back already. I just want to go in there and learn from him. Be a good teammate and hopefully we can make something special happen out of it.”
The Eagles, the defending NFC champs, traded up to take defensive tackle Jalen Carter with the ninth overall pick. He will be reunited with former Bulldogs in defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean. The Eagles later selected former Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith.
The Falcons have never drafted a player from Georgia in the first round of the draft and elected to pass on Carter and Smith. The have drafted a player from Georgia Tech in the first-round, linebacker Keith Brooking back in 1998 (12th overall).
Carter had a rocky run up to the draft starting with the events of Jan. 15.
Crash investigators determined that Carter and UGA recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy were traveling side by side at more than 100 mph on Barnett Shoals Road in Athens when the car LeCroy was driving left the road.
LeCroy and Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock died. Tory Bowles, another UGA employee, was seriously injured, while Warren McClendon, riding in the front seat with his seat belt fastened, walked away with only a cut on his forehead.
Carter pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving.
In addition to the fatal crash, Carter had a subpar workout on his Pro Day. He could not finish the workout. However, he has game tape that shows he could be a dominant force in the NFL.
The Falcons defense needs help, but the new regime insists they want players with the right “character” and “makeup.” Were Carter’s issues with the crash, poor workout and allegedly poor practice habits a deterrent to his selection?
“There were a lot of good players available,” Arthur Smith said. “You can’t coach them all. ...He is a player that was successful at Georgia. They’ve had a lot of success the last two years, but there were a lot of good players there.”
The Falcons were hoping for a run on quarterbacks early and that would push down a good player to them at their spot.
Three quarterbacks were selected within the first four picks of the draft.
The Panthers, who acquired the top pick in the draft from the Chicago Bears in a mega-trade, used the pick to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Young won the Heisman Trophy after the 2021 season, but has issues with a shoulder injury last season. He completed 65.8% of his passes, tossed 80 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over 34 games for the Crimson Tide.
He became the first Alabama player to be selected No. 1 overall in the common-draft era.
The Texans followed by selected Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick.
Stroud had a spectacular showing against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He passed for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the 42-41 loss. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
Over his career, Stroud completed 69.3% of his passes, 85 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.
Stroud draft status was called into question when his cognitive testing results were considered poor.
The Texans stayed on the clock after trading up with the Cardinals and selected Alabama linebacker/defensive end Will Anderson, who became the first player from Georgia selected.
He was an AJC Super 11 selection out of Dutchtown High before going on to star for the Crimson Tide.
The Colts selected Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick.
Richardson passed for 3,105 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for the Gators.
The knock on Richardson is that he has made only 13 college starts.
He was mostly inconsistent, but dazzled at times for the Gators. Richardson completed 176 of 327 passes (53.8%) for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The Seahawks selected cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Arizona traded back up and picked up Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
Las Vegas had the pick right before the Falcons and took Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson.
AJC’S 2023 POSITION-BY-POSITION DRAFT SERIES
WIDE RECEIVERS – Past few drafts have spoiled NFL teams looking for wide receivers | Top 10 WRs
RUNNING BACKS – Running backs Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs may have to wait to hear their names called | Top 10 RBs
TIGHT ENDS – Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer heads a dee TE class | Top 10 TEs
QUARTERBACKS – Bryce Young’s small stature no longer an issue in the NFL | Top 10 QBs
OFFENSIVE LINE – Skoronski’s short arm length being scrutinized for left tackle | Top 5 C,G, &OTs
DEFENSIVE LINE – Is Jalen Carter the real deal or a potential bust? | Top 5 DTs, DEs
LINEBACKERS – Dutchtown’s Will Anderson expected to go in the top 5 of NFL draft | Top LBs
CORNERBACKS – Former Georgia standout Kelee Ringo one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL draft | Top CBs
SAFETIES – Alabama’s Brian Branch, Jordan Battle are top safeties in the NFL draft | Top FS/SS
SPECIAL TEAMS – Michigan’s Jake Moody hopes to kick way to NFL draft | Top STs
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