Why did the Falcons draft Bijan Robinson? Support for Desmond Ridder, Arthur Smith offense behind early RB pick

The Falcons have made a big splash with their first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

With the No. 8 pick, Atlanta opted to buck conventional wisdom and spend a top-10 pick on a running back. That would be Bijan Robinson from Texas.

Robinson is viewed as one of the best overall players in the 2023 NFL Draft with some talent evaluators even considering him to be the top offensive player overall. However, he had a wide draft range because of the devaluing of the running back position. Some thought he would go in the top 10 while others thought he could slip much later into the first round.

The Falcons made sure that Robinson wouldn't escape the top 10 and now will rely on him as their top running back.

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But why exactly did Atlanta spend its first pick on a running back? Here's what to know about the Falcons' decision to take Robinson over some of the other top talents on the board.

Why did the Falcons draft Bijan Robinson?

The Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson for several reasons, but the main reason is that he is a perfect fit for the team's offense.

Atlanta was one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL during the 2022 NFL season. The Falcons ran the ball 55.3 percent of the time, good for the second-highest mark in the league behind only the Bears. They did this because they have a good run-blocking offense line that helped them average 4.9 yards per carry, the fourth-highest mark in the NFL.

Despite those strong numbers, the Falcons didn't have a true workhorse in their backfield. Rookie Tyler Allgeier went for over 1,000 yards, but he started just seven games throughout the season. Cordarrelle Patterson and Caleb Huntley also were solid parts of the team's rotation, and while there was hope that Allgeier could be a strong starter, he simply doesn't possess the three-down ceiling of Robinson.

Robinson profiles as more of a workhorse back for the Falcons. That's something that head coach Arthur Smith had during his days as the Titans' offensive coordinator in Derrick Henry. The duo found plenty of success together, so it's easy to understand why Smith would want to recreate that in Atlanta with Robinson.

Additionally, the Falcons are set to start Desmond Ridder at quarterback in 2023. The 2022 third-round pick made four starts as a rookie and posted decent numbers, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 708 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. That said, the team will want to take pressure off him after he was sacked nine times in four starts, so adding Robinson to be the focal point of the offense should accomplish that goal.

Finally, it's worth noting that selecting Robinson seems to fit the modus operandum of Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot. The 2023 NFL Draft is Fontenot's third with Atlanta; in the first two, he took offensive playmakers with the team's top-10 selections — tight end Kyle Pitts (2021) and wide receiver Drake London (2022).

Neither Pitts nor London offered much in terms of positional value where they were selected, much like Robinson. But Fontenot views them as core pieces for the team's offense and each was viewed as a relatively safe bet to produce at the next level.

In other words, Fontenot is looking for players early that have both high ceilings and high floors. Robinson certainly checks those boxes and should be a difference-maker for the Falcons as long as he can stay on the field.

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Bijan Robinson stats

Robinson was largely able to stay healthy during his time at Texas, and that allowed him to solidify his status as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He played three seasons for the Longhorns and was able to increase his total yardage and touchdowns each year.

Below is a look at his rushing stats with the Longhorns:

Robinson also showed enough as a pass-catcher to establish that he can be a three-down threat at the NFL level. He caught 60 passes for 805 yards and eight touchdowns during his college career.

If the Falcons can get similar production out of him in the NFL, they will happy with their selection. And there's a chance that he could help establish them as the team to beat in the NFC South given how weak the competition is within that division.

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Falcons RB depth chart

Adding Robinson gives the Falcons one of the deepest and most talented backfields in the NFL. Below is a look at the six players they have at the position with Robinson now in tow:

There's little doubt that Robinson will be the Falcons' No. 1 back in 2023 after being a top-10 pick. That will allow Allgeier to slot in behind him as a high-upside backup while Patterson can work as a change-of-pace and third-down back. He can also go back to his roots and play receiver for the team, too.

Meanwhile, Huntley will provide depth behind that trio though may be inactive on game days and Williams will battle for a roster spot as a core special teamer and return man. As for Baylor, he will likely be playing for a practice squad position or auditioning for another team during the 2023 NFL preseason.

It's also worth mentioning that the Falcons currently have two fullbacks on their roster: veteran Keith Smith and second-year pro Clint Ratkovich, who spent 2022 on Atlanta's practice squad. So, there may be a roster crunch in the backfield that could result in some of the backup running backs looking for work elsewhere.

But for now, it would appear that Robinson and Allgeier are safe as the team's preferred one-two punch.