Bijan Robinson: The Perfect Player Fit?

The Atlanta Falcons selected Bijan Robinson with their No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft last week.

While there may have been questions around the long-term wisdom of selecting a running back in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, no one questioned the talent of Robinson.

One of the best running back prospects in years coming to a Falcons’ offense that features the running back?

Round peg, round hole.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks agreed, and put Bijan Robinson on his list of 10 players who are perfect fits with their new teams.

The surprisingly early selection of Robinson did not address a glaring need of the Falcons, but it enables coach Arthur Smith to build around a superstar running back with an expansive toolbox. During his tenure as offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, Smith orchestrated an imposing ground-and-pound attack spearheaded by Derrick Henry.

In Atlanta, Smith has an opportunity to bully defenses once more, with Robinson shouldering the workload as an explosive runner-receiver boasting big-play potential. Between Robinson, Ty Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson in the backfield and Drake London and Kyle Pitts on the perimeter, the Dirty Birds can create problems for opponents with many formations and personnel combinations.

The upgraded supporting cast should make it easier for Smith to run an offense that features Desmond Ridder functioning as a high-end game manager, despite his inexperience and limitations as QB1.

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

The addition of Robinson will lighten the load and likely lengthen the career of Allgeier who set a Falcons’ rookie rushing record last season.

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Patterson can be used more strategically. An exciting runner with the ball in his hands, he’s also missed games the last two seasons with injury.

Pitts and London should see more stacked boxes and have more room to operate in the defensive backfield. And a running game is a quarterback’s best friend.

The Falcons poured a ton of money into their defense during free agency, shored up the offensive line, have two receivers drafted in the top 10, and a two-headed monster at running back.

The pieces are in place for Ridder to take this team to the next level, and the Falcons’ expectations should be hunting playoffs in the NFC South this year.