Eagles host Bijan Robinson for official Top-30 NFL Draft visit
We’ve debated over the shelf lives of running backs, the constant threat of injury, how much the Philadelphia Eagles should pay for one in free agency, and where they should ultimately be drafted. We’ve all done so knowing one thing to be true. They’re treated as though they’re disposable until there’s an unexpected injury. Then, they’re treated like printer ink, socks, and batteries. You never realize how much you need them until you suddenly don’t have any.
Pro Days are underway, and Philly’s running back room, though stocked, is seemingly in need of ‘something else’, but that’s the case every offseason, isn’t it? Often, there’s this feeling that the guys they have all bring similar skill sets. At other times, they need a workhorse.
With Miles Sanders’s departure, there’s another take. They just need a starter, and at the risk of sounding disrespectful, that mood didn’t change a great deal when Rashaad Penny was added.
They’ve been linked to both Bijan Robinson AND Jahmyr Gibbs. Both have been named as first-round choices for the Birds in a few mocks. Both will visit the NovaCare Complex on Top-30 visits. The former Texas Longhorn made his trip to the City of Brotherly Love recently.
Bijan Robinson lets his Instagram followers know he’s visiting the Eagles.
Per several sources, including NFL Network’s Mike Grafolo, former Texas Longhorns star Biijan Robinson is in town on March 21st to pay a visit to the NFC Champions… But, you already knew that didn’t you?
Word travels fast around Eagles Nation. It travels even faster on Instagram. Those two roads intersected as Robinson shared the following post on his I.G. story.
This post from Texas RB Bijan Robinson last night was indeed what it looked like. He’s paying a pre-draft visit to the #Eagles today, source says. Our guy @MoveTheSticks has said Robinson to Philly makes a ton of sense, though Howie Roseman has never gone RB Round 1. pic.twitter.com/InWMlOPm3G
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 21, 2023
While there’s no denying that Robinson would be a nice addition for Philly, we’re back to the original question. Is taking a running back in Round 1 feasible? Keep in mind the fact that this team has huge holes to fill, and they don’t have a ton of draft capital.
Howie Roseman has never taken a running back in the first round of any Eagles draft that he’s led, and the Eagles haven’t drafted a tailback in Round 1 since Keith Byars was the selection in 1986.
Eagles Nation hasn’t discussed a running back from the University of Texas this much since Ricky Williams was the hot topic in 1999. Philly went with Donovan McNabb. All of that is food for thought.
Eagles shouldn’t draft Robinson tenth-overall. light. Related Story
Questions can also be asked about whether or not taking him at the tenth-overall selection would be a reach or if he’d be available at the end of Round 1 when the Eagles are on the clock again. Conflicting arguments can be made for both theories. Here’s the skinny.
Bijan Robinson is a phenomenal piece that can be a day-one starter and an immediate difference-maker for the team that drafts him. Talent at the running back position can also be found in later rounds though. Look no further than Kenneth Gainwll if you need any examples of that theory.
What the Eagles find on Day 2 or Day 3 may not be as good as Robinson (or Jahmyr Gibbs for that matter), but they may want to look for a workhorse to avoid an abundance of punishment to Jalen Hurts’ frame, especially seeing as how we’re armed with the knowledge that a Rashaad Penney injury is always right around the corner.
