The thirsty Eagles will. They think he's the missing piece to them winning a championship
Who is drafting Bijan Robinson?
- Thread starter Joe Sixpack
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VegetasHairline
Veteran
Forget NFL Draft norms, RB Bijan Robinson is a game-changer and worthy first-round pick
Fans don't like first-round picks being used on running backs. But Nick Baumgardner says Robinson is special, and perfect for the Lions.
theathletic.com
Brad Holmes answered the question with a question.
Speaking with reporters at the NFL combine, the third-year Lions general manager was asked if his franchise — less than three years removed from starting over — would consider a “luxury pick” with one of its two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Not a ridiculous idea, as the Lions were inches away from the playoffs in Dan Campbell’s second year and are now firmly rising on the national media darling chart.
However …
“Are we in position to make that luxury pick?” Holmes responded, questioning the questioner’s premise with the trademark tone of a man whose work is never done and whose hand is closely guarded.
There are multiple versions of a “luxury pick.” For many Lions fans, and more national observers, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is a popular one.
But let me propose a different player to consider. One who would end any conversation about whether the Lions need to draft a quarterback to join Jared Goff. One who would solve a need for a long time and one who would pair perfectly with everything Detroit is — and will be for the next several years — as an offense.
Not a quarterback luxury pick. The other luxury. The running back. The generational talent, built for the modern game, who could make everything a little bit easier everywhere else on the field for a long, long time.
The Bijan Robinson luxury.
I’ll start with this and will hold to it throughout: I do not care what the numbers say about drafting running backs historically, especially recently, in this case. And I don’t care because Texas sensation Bijan Robinson isn’t a normal running back.
The general batting average on running backs in the first round over the last few years is better than many give it credit for. Najee Harris (No. 24, 2021), Josh Jacobs (No. 24, 2019), Saquon Barkley (No. 2, 2018), Christian McCaffrey (No. 8, 2017). All were first-round worthy in their draft classes, and all are the modern definition of franchise running backs. None needs an elite quarterback to be successful or to have a major impact on a franchise.
I believe Bijan Robinson can be that type of player for the Lions.
I’ll let him tell you why.
“I’m a knee-bender when I run the ball. Another guy that was a knee bender was Barry Sanders,” Robinson told reporters at the combine recently. “To try to redirect (defenders) and try to be as low to the ground as you can get and understand, you have to feel defenders, and read their shoulders and read angles to break as many tackles as you can to try to get north and south.
“I watch (Sanders) probably every other day.”
My favorite thing about Sanders is that he doesn’t have one famous play. He doesn’t even have a signature highlight reel. Every single play is equally special, equally astounding and equally remarkable.
“He was so good,” Robinson said, “at doing things you couldn’t do.”
Sanders was both a marvel in his era while also being ahead of his time. A player like that in today’s game, with as much space as play-callers create on a consistent basis, would be lethal. I’m not here to tell you that Robinson is the next Sanders, because he’s not. There will never be another Barry Sanders. If anything, Robinson is a longer, slightly slower version of Edgerrin James — another Pro Football Hall of Famer with his own unique blend of power, speed, soft hands and a nose for daylight.
Robinson does share some of Sanders’ signature traits, however. His ability to bend himself lower to the ground than anyone on the field — setting up the defenders before shifting his weight without losing any speed and leaving everyone behind — is the chief reason why Robinson was able to rack up 212 missed tackles (104 last year alone) in only three years at Texas and more than 2,300 yards after contact.
The other top trait Robinson shares with Sanders is that he doesn’t need to lean on anyone or anything to make the offense dangerous. A three-down player who doesn’t have to come off the field, Robinson runs routes as well as several receivers in this class. He had only four drops on 77 targets in three years at Texas and he was probably underused at that. Robinson can readjust to bad throws in the air; he can high-point balls.
He can make every player in an offensive huddle look better.
There’s probably no chief reason why Robinson was underutilized at Texas. Backs don’t take the type of punishment they did in Sanders’ day, which is a great thing. Also, Texas heaped plenty on the plate of fellow running back Roschon Johnson during Robinson’s career. In an era when it literally pays to stand out individually (especially at a place like Texas), Robinson had no problem sharing carries or playing time with Johnson.
That’s because Robinson is an unselfish player, one who wants to do what’s best for the whole as much as he wants to do what’s best for himself.
“Roschon is the best teammate I’ve ever had. He brings out so much in a player and the team just how he goes about being a leader,” Robinson says. “Roschon is a god. He’s the other great running back in this class.”
If that’s not on a Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes “we are One Pride” B-I-N-G-O card, I don’t know what is.
https://theathletic.com/4233705/2023/02/21/lions-nfl-mock-draft-2023/
https://theathletic.com/4317365/2023/03/17/anthony-richardson-billy-napier-nfl-draft/
Speaking with reporters at the NFL combine, the third-year Lions general manager was asked if his franchise — less than three years removed from starting over — would consider a “luxury pick” with one of its two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Not a ridiculous idea, as the Lions were inches away from the playoffs in Dan Campbell’s second year and are now firmly rising on the national media darling chart.
However …
“Are we in position to make that luxury pick?” Holmes responded, questioning the questioner’s premise with the trademark tone of a man whose work is never done and whose hand is closely guarded.
There are multiple versions of a “luxury pick.” For many Lions fans, and more national observers, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is a popular one.
But let me propose a different player to consider. One who would end any conversation about whether the Lions need to draft a quarterback to join Jared Goff. One who would solve a need for a long time and one who would pair perfectly with everything Detroit is — and will be for the next several years — as an offense.
Not a quarterback luxury pick. The other luxury. The running back. The generational talent, built for the modern game, who could make everything a little bit easier everywhere else on the field for a long, long time.
The Bijan Robinson luxury.
I’ll start with this and will hold to it throughout: I do not care what the numbers say about drafting running backs historically, especially recently, in this case. And I don’t care because Texas sensation Bijan Robinson isn’t a normal running back.
The general batting average on running backs in the first round over the last few years is better than many give it credit for. Najee Harris (No. 24, 2021), Josh Jacobs (No. 24, 2019), Saquon Barkley (No. 2, 2018), Christian McCaffrey (No. 8, 2017). All were first-round worthy in their draft classes, and all are the modern definition of franchise running backs. None needs an elite quarterback to be successful or to have a major impact on a franchise.
I believe Bijan Robinson can be that type of player for the Lions.
I’ll let him tell you why.
“I’m a knee-bender when I run the ball. Another guy that was a knee bender was Barry Sanders,” Robinson told reporters at the combine recently. “To try to redirect (defenders) and try to be as low to the ground as you can get and understand, you have to feel defenders, and read their shoulders and read angles to break as many tackles as you can to try to get north and south.
“I watch (Sanders) probably every other day.”
My favorite thing about Sanders is that he doesn’t have one famous play. He doesn’t even have a signature highlight reel. Every single play is equally special, equally astounding and equally remarkable.
“He was so good,” Robinson said, “at doing things you couldn’t do.”
Sanders was both a marvel in his era while also being ahead of his time. A player like that in today’s game, with as much space as play-callers create on a consistent basis, would be lethal. I’m not here to tell you that Robinson is the next Sanders, because he’s not. There will never be another Barry Sanders. If anything, Robinson is a longer, slightly slower version of Edgerrin James — another Pro Football Hall of Famer with his own unique blend of power, speed, soft hands and a nose for daylight.
Robinson does share some of Sanders’ signature traits, however. His ability to bend himself lower to the ground than anyone on the field — setting up the defenders before shifting his weight without losing any speed and leaving everyone behind — is the chief reason why Robinson was able to rack up 212 missed tackles (104 last year alone) in only three years at Texas and more than 2,300 yards after contact.
The other top trait Robinson shares with Sanders is that he doesn’t need to lean on anyone or anything to make the offense dangerous. A three-down player who doesn’t have to come off the field, Robinson runs routes as well as several receivers in this class. He had only four drops on 77 targets in three years at Texas and he was probably underused at that. Robinson can readjust to bad throws in the air; he can high-point balls.
He can make every player in an offensive huddle look better.
There’s probably no chief reason why Robinson was underutilized at Texas. Backs don’t take the type of punishment they did in Sanders’ day, which is a great thing. Also, Texas heaped plenty on the plate of fellow running back Roschon Johnson during Robinson’s career. In an era when it literally pays to stand out individually (especially at a place like Texas), Robinson had no problem sharing carries or playing time with Johnson.
That’s because Robinson is an unselfish player, one who wants to do what’s best for the whole as much as he wants to do what’s best for himself.
“Roschon is the best teammate I’ve ever had. He brings out so much in a player and the team just how he goes about being a leader,” Robinson says. “Roschon is a god. He’s the other great running back in this class.”
If that’s not on a Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes “we are One Pride” B-I-N-G-O card, I don’t know what is.
https://theathletic.com/4233705/2023/02/21/lions-nfl-mock-draft-2023/
https://theathletic.com/4317365/2023/03/17/anthony-richardson-billy-napier-nfl-draft/
VegetasHairline
Veteran
Forget NFL Draft norms, RB Bijan Robinson is a game-changer and worthy first-round pick
Fans don't like first-round picks being used on running backs. But Nick Baumgardner says Robinson is special, and perfect for the Lions.
theathletic.com
Another thing surely on that card is stability at quarterback, and taking a player of Robinson’s caliber — and coupling him with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Detroit’s uber-talented offensive line — would allow the Lions to simply settle in on Goff (who just had his best year as a pro) for the next few seasons without hesitation.
The Lions turned a few heads in free agency by signing 25-year-old running back David Montgomery, formerly of the Bears. From a football standpoint only, this move makes a ton of sense. Montgomery is similar to Jamaal Williams in that he can run between the tackles and take punishment without wearing down — he’s also two years younger. The Lions clearly believe their locker room is stable enough to handle Williams’ departure. Montgomery will now be the team’s new thumper.
So, where would Robinson fit? As a long-term, home-run option right next to Montgomery. He fits because he’s a playmaker, arguably the best in this draft. This could mean D’Andre Swift, whose rookie deal ends after 2023, is the odd man out long-term. Last season, Football Outsiders ranked Detroit No. 7 in adjusted line yards (essentially, yards created by the offensive line) and No. 15 in second-level yards (yards the back creates 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage).
Reality is reality: Williams was as beloved as any Lion in recent memory and Swift has talent, but both left yards on the table last year. Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson run a matchup-based attack rooted in the run game. It’s not a system so much as it is a series of concepts designed to get the Lions’ best athlete(s) matched up against a defense’s weakest spot as many times as possible. Not unlike what Campbell helped Sean Payton run for many years in New Orleans, several with Alvin Kamara. Adding gas to the backfield would turn this offense from promising to scary. Detroit could also accomplish this by adding speed at tight end or wide receiver, perhaps in later rounds. Maybe they’ll look at someone like Tulane RB Tyjae Spears on day two.
But Robinson, in my opinion, is the best player among those options.
The Lions could consider Robinson should he drop to No. 18, or if they could move up after drafting defense at No. 6. Drafting another three-down offensive playmaker (which is how we should view Robinson) would allow Detroit to, more or less, close the book on the offensive foundation and shift all its focus to fine-tuning the defense in an effort to immediately seize control of a suddenly wide-open NFC North.
The Lions will have to invest in a bridge plan for Goff at some point, but if he continues to play anywhere near the level he showed in 2022, that bridge plan doesn’t have to happen for a while.
“I think,” Holmes said in January, “it’s a lot easier to get worse at quarterback than to get better at quarterback in this league.”
Drafting running backs in the first round is not a popular practice in today’s NFL. Selecting Sanders wasn’t a sure thing for the Lions in 1989, either. Detroit also liked Florida State cornerback Deion Sanders and Alabama pass rusher Derrick Thomas for the No. 3 pick. But after team personnel saw Sanders run a 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day a few weeks before the draft, they were convinced they’d found their unicorn. The Lions have not been right about much historically. They were damn sure right about that one.
There’s another unicorn ball carrier lurking for Detroit in this draft. And if the Lions take a similar swing at Robinson, I don’t think they’ll be wrong about this one, either.
Because Bijan Robinson isn’t a luxury pick. He’s a foundational game-changer.
https://theathletic.com/4304645/2023/03/14/nfl-draft-2023-top-100-combine/
The Lions turned a few heads in free agency by signing 25-year-old running back David Montgomery, formerly of the Bears. From a football standpoint only, this move makes a ton of sense. Montgomery is similar to Jamaal Williams in that he can run between the tackles and take punishment without wearing down — he’s also two years younger. The Lions clearly believe their locker room is stable enough to handle Williams’ departure. Montgomery will now be the team’s new thumper.
So, where would Robinson fit? As a long-term, home-run option right next to Montgomery. He fits because he’s a playmaker, arguably the best in this draft. This could mean D’Andre Swift, whose rookie deal ends after 2023, is the odd man out long-term. Last season, Football Outsiders ranked Detroit No. 7 in adjusted line yards (essentially, yards created by the offensive line) and No. 15 in second-level yards (yards the back creates 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage).
Reality is reality: Williams was as beloved as any Lion in recent memory and Swift has talent, but both left yards on the table last year. Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson run a matchup-based attack rooted in the run game. It’s not a system so much as it is a series of concepts designed to get the Lions’ best athlete(s) matched up against a defense’s weakest spot as many times as possible. Not unlike what Campbell helped Sean Payton run for many years in New Orleans, several with Alvin Kamara. Adding gas to the backfield would turn this offense from promising to scary. Detroit could also accomplish this by adding speed at tight end or wide receiver, perhaps in later rounds. Maybe they’ll look at someone like Tulane RB Tyjae Spears on day two.
But Robinson, in my opinion, is the best player among those options.
The Lions could consider Robinson should he drop to No. 18, or if they could move up after drafting defense at No. 6. Drafting another three-down offensive playmaker (which is how we should view Robinson) would allow Detroit to, more or less, close the book on the offensive foundation and shift all its focus to fine-tuning the defense in an effort to immediately seize control of a suddenly wide-open NFC North.
The Lions will have to invest in a bridge plan for Goff at some point, but if he continues to play anywhere near the level he showed in 2022, that bridge plan doesn’t have to happen for a while.
“I think,” Holmes said in January, “it’s a lot easier to get worse at quarterback than to get better at quarterback in this league.”
Drafting running backs in the first round is not a popular practice in today’s NFL. Selecting Sanders wasn’t a sure thing for the Lions in 1989, either. Detroit also liked Florida State cornerback Deion Sanders and Alabama pass rusher Derrick Thomas for the No. 3 pick. But after team personnel saw Sanders run a 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day a few weeks before the draft, they were convinced they’d found their unicorn. The Lions have not been right about much historically. They were damn sure right about that one.
There’s another unicorn ball carrier lurking for Detroit in this draft. And if the Lions take a similar swing at Robinson, I don’t think they’ll be wrong about this one, either.
Because Bijan Robinson isn’t a luxury pick. He’s a foundational game-changer.
https://theathletic.com/4304645/2023/03/14/nfl-draft-2023-top-100-combine/
desjardins
Veteran
Eagles have two 1st rounders and just signed injury prone rashaad penny....maybe move back on the 1st pick or move up on the 2nd and grab dude
him and penny whenever he's healthy would be a sick combo
him and penny whenever he's healthy would be a sick combo
BelowTheMasonDixon
Veteran
Ain't nobody special when the your QBs are the ghost of Rapelisberger and baby hands.That’s wishful thinking on my part
They won’t draft him but Najee is not the guy
He’s not special
Eagles are not taking Bijan
They don’t wanna pay a RB
They just let Miles Sanders go who is 25 and had his best season
The Eagles don’t value RBs
So how exactly did Adrian Peterson run for 2,100 yards with Christian Ponder and Joe Webb, a fukkin WR, at QB?
Christian Ponder was the WORST QB I HAVE EVER SEEN
BelowTheMasonDixon
Veteran
So the floor is Adrian Peterson? Maybe the best RB in the last 20 yrs. Ok well outside of AP most RBs gonna look normal and as Bad as Ponder was he could throw farther than 5 yards without it being a wounded duck. And they traded Claypool cmon man.
So how exactly did Adrian Peterson run for 2,100 yards with Christian Ponder and Joe Webb, a fukkin WR, at QB?
Christian Ponder was the WORST QB I HAVE EVER SEEN
,
I have more examples for you
Earl Campbell won NFL MVP with trash at QB
Eric dikkerson set the single season rushing record with TRASH at QB
I used him cause from your post you implied no RB can be special with a trash QB and I gave you an example
I have more examples for you
Earl Campbell won NFL MVP with trash at QB
Eric dikkerson set the single season rushing record with TRASH at QB
So how exactly did Adrian Peterson run for 2,100 yards with Christian Ponder and Joe Webb, a fukkin WR, at QB?
Christian Ponder was the WORST QB I HAVE EVER SEEN
Adrian Peterson is 1 of 1. Not fair to compare anybody to him.
Najee is a 3-down back. A good one. His numbers may not look all that great, but given what he was thrust into -- shaky OL play, no QB/passing attack worth consistently gameplanning against until the Pickett to Pickens connection started flashing -- it could be a lot worse.
Things may get better for him. Main thing he needs to do is run like he's the 6'2 240 that he measures at.
beenz
Rap Guerilla
He will be the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
267 carries, 1278 yards, 13 Tubs, 40 recs, 865 yards, 5 Tubs
He would look great in a Steelers uniform
RB's are no longer valued in the NFL as most teams do it by committee. and if u need further evidence about the declining value of rushing, look at my chicago bears who led the league in the rushing yards yet still finished with the WORST record in the NFL. I don't care how good a prospect is, I don't see teams using high first rounders on RB's for the foreseeable future.
BelowTheMasonDixon
Veteran
So, be Eric dikkerson, AP. Or Earl Campbell. Got ya. If you think Bijan Robinson fixing to go to Pitt and average 4.5 yards a touch and 1400 yards rushing on that team IDK what to tell you.
I clearly said I have other examples
How do you explain Barry Sanders?
What about Walter Payton who had somebody named Bob Avellini as his QB when he won the MVP in 1977?
If you're truly special as a RB it doesn't matter who the QB is
In Chicago's defense, Justin Fields being a dynamic runner out of nowhere is why Chicago led the league in rushing. His legs were all they had down the stretch.
It did not help that Chicago seemed to be the worst pass-blocking team in the league and their defense was -- by franchise standards -- all-time scust.
BelowTheMasonDixon
Veteran
I clearly said I have other examples
How do you explain Barry Sanders?
What about Walter Payton who had somebody named Bob Avellini as his QB when he won the MVP in 1977?
If you're truly special as a RB it doesn't matter who the QB is
nikka look at the people you are naming tho.