Running back Bijan Robinson is a top-10 player on several NFL Draft big boards. However, few people expect he’ll go that high in the draft.
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah went on “The Pat McAfee Show” and expressed his wish — however remote — that the Eagles subvert expectations and draft Robinson 10th overall.
Philadelphia, coming off a Super Bowl appearance, acquired the 10th pick in a trade last offseason with the New Orleans Saints. The Eagles also have the 30th pick in the draft.
Jeremiah has Robinson ranked fourth on his ranking of top NFL prospects. Robinson is considered by The Ringer as the sixth overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. ESPN has him ranked as its ninth-best prospect.
Robinson’s play is worthy of a top-10 selection, but the running back position has been devalued to such an extent he’s seen in most mock
drafts going to either the Dallas Cowboys (26th overall) or the Buffalo Bills (27th overall). He would be a steal if he were to stay available that long.
Teams are justified for their conservative approach when drafting running backs. Nick Chubb (35th overall), Jonathan Taylor (41st overall) and Alvin Kamara (67th overall) are just three running backs selected in later rounds who have gone on to great NFL careers.
Most teams picking in the top 10 have several glaring needs and can get elite talent elsewhere while getting a great running back later in the draft. The Eagles aren’t most teams.
They won the NFC this year with a 14-3 record and don’t have many holes on their roster. One need might actually be at running back if 2022 starter Miles Sanders leaves in free agency. Philadelphia can afford to take a swing on an elite draft prospect.
During his final year at Texas, Robinson had 258 carries, 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns. He added 19 receptions for 314 yards and two touchdowns. His ability to bounce off defenders and keep his balance recalls Kamara at his most slippery.
Another way of looking at it is to think of how devastating an offense with Robinson would look in Philadelphia. Jalen Hurts is coming off an MVP-caliber season, and Robinson would join skill-position players in Heisman Trophy-winner DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and tight end Dallas Goedert.
Formulating a game plan against that would be a nightmare. Thirty-one NFL franchises are hoping the Eagles pick someone else.