Arguments for the Eagles to draft & ignore Bijan Robinson tenth overall
Here are three of the most obvious reasons the Eagles have to draft Bijan Robinson with the tenth-overall selection.
It’s hard to ignore the resume. Frankly, it would be disrespectful to do so. This 2022 Doak Walker Award winner and Unanimous All-American is also a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 nod (2021, 2022). The reasons the Eagles have to select Bijan Robinson are obvious. Here are a few of the most obvious just in case you’ve forgotten.
1. Well, they say the best defense is often a strong offense.
There’s a reason why teams try to win the time of possession metric. It works. They say that sometimes a good offense is a great defense. That might be true. Think about it this way.
The Philadelphia Eagles qualified for two Super Bowls in six NFL seasons. Defense had very little to do with the outcome of those games.
With that being said, here’s a question that we can all think about. Might adding another offensive star, one that catapults Philly to the unstoppable sphere, be just as feasible as taking another run-stuffer, cover guy, or pass rusher? It’s something to think about.
Bijan can help move the chains and put the points on the board. These days, in some games, that equates to great defense.
2. With a talent like this one on the roster, the Eagles can limit the number of shots that Jalen Hurts is taking.
This one is self-explanatory. No one cares that Jalen Hurts can squat 600 pounds. That’s cool and all, but if he continues to take shots like we’ve seen him take during his first two seasons, he isn’t going to play long. That’s what we don’t want.
Don’t look now, but QB1 hasn’t been healthy at the end of both of his first two full seasons as a starter. That didn’t seem to limit him much in Super Bowl LVII, but we’d rather not play with fire. Bijan Robinson could be the workhorse to take the pressure off of Jalen in the running game and, hopefully, allow Philly to ask QB1 to run less often.
3. There’s no denying the fact that landing Bijan gives the Eagles one of the best prospects in the draft at his position.
He’s the best tailback in the draft, and at ten, the Birds should have a shot at taking a player that has earned that distinction. There’s a chance that we could see three quarterbacks or more taken during the first nine selections.
All a team could hope for with a top-ten choice is that they’ll be allowed an opportunity to land one of the top prospects at his position. If the Birds do have a tailback on their minds early, there isn’t one in this draft class that’s better than the former Texas Longhorns standout.
4. If running backs do indeed enjoy short shelf lives, at least we’re getting four to five explosive seasons.
Windows in the NFL don’t last long. Remember when we thought the Seattle Seahawks would be a dynasty after winning that first Super Bowl?
It feels like there’s a window open for the Birds to win a second Vince Lombardi Trophy now. There are no guarantees in the NFL Draft. There certainly aren’t any guarantees with taking a tailback.
Howie Roseman doesn’t hand out a lot of second contracts to tailbacks. As a matter of fact, he’s only done so twice (Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy), but Bijan Robinson might be good enough to make him rethink that theory. If nothing else and if Howie honors the fifth-year option on Robinson’s rookie deal, at least we know that we’re promised five explosive seasons… hopefully.
Bonus: Don’t forget about Bijan’s ability as a receiver!
Bijan Robinson isn’t just a smashmouth runner. He’s a talented receiver out of the backfield, maybe even more so than Miles Sanders was.
During 31 games at the collegiate level over three seasons, he snagged 60 receptions that resulted in 805 yards and eight receiving TDs. That would add another dimension to Philadelphia’s already impressive offense.
