Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson is viewed as the best prospect at his position in the 2023 NFL Draft. We’ve seen the tailback position devalued a bit in recent years, with just four ballcarriers selected in the opening round of the past three drafts, but Robinson is widely expected to add to that tally on April 27.
Three highly productive seasons at Texas, including a dominant junior season in which he earned the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s best running back now has Robinson on track to take the NFL by storm.
Robinson is viewed as a true three-down back, which should allow him to make an immediate impact at the next level. He has a rare blend of size, speed, and strength that leave few questions about his skills translating to the pros.
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As one of the better all-around running back prospects to emerge from the college prospect talent pool, Robinson could be poised to become a household name among NFL fans as soon as next season.
Our Bijan Robinson NFL Draft profile examines his resumé, scouting report, and measurables while also projecting his future.
Bijan Robinson measurements
- Bijan Robinson height: 5-foot-11
- Bijan Robinson weight: 215 pounds
Let’s dive into Sportsnaut’s Bijan Robinson draft profile.
Bijan Robinson stats and background
Seeing Robinson’s draft stock continue to soar throughout his Longhorns career comes as no surprise. He was a five-star recruit coming out of Salpointe Catholic High School in Arizona and only continued to impress once he arrived on campus at Texas.
Robinson instantly got on the field as a freshman, racking up 703 rushing yards in just 86 attempts for an incredible 8.2 yards per carry. He then became a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 member over his next two seasons, helping revive Texas’ prolific rushing offense.
| Bijan Robinson stats | Attempts | Rush yards | TDs | Rec yards | PFF Grade |
| 2021 | 195 | 1,127 | 11 | 295 | 86.7 |
| 2022 | 258 | 1,580 | 18 | 314 | 95.3 |
His size checks out to the point where Robinson appears to be able to handle a bellcow role in an NFL offense, which is likely a large reason why he’s viewed as a legitimate first-round prospect. From a production standpoint, there’s nothing not to like about the 21-year-old running back prospect.
Statistics courtesy of College Football Reference, ESPN, and Pro Football Focus
Scouting Texas Longhorns RB Bijan Robinson
Robinson wins with speed and power, and as just about every defender in the Big 12 can tell you, he’s incredibly hard to tackle. Robinson blazed a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which is a respectable time for a starting running back. He’s not going to be among the fastest backs in the NFL, but he can still break off plenty of long runs that end in six points.
Unlike many other great rushers, Robinson also adds value as a pass-catcher. He didn’t drop a single pass last season and won’t have to be subbed out on obvious passing situations in the pros. In fact, Robinson could become the quarterback’s best friend as a checkdown option when pressure mounts. Or, as the clip below shows, as a deep outlet on a wheel route picking up large chunks of yardage.
Related: NFL teams view Texas running back Bijan Robinson as ‘top-5’ player in 2023 NFL Draft
- Bijan Robinson draft grade: 86/100
- Bijan Robinson draft projection: Top 25 pick
It’s hard to find much of anything to dislike about Robinson for a team in need of a boost in their backfield in 2023. Robinson would immediately be the best pure rusher on roughly half of the NFL teams next season.
Being that he just turned 21 in January, he could very well be a team’s starting running back for nearly a decade. That alone should have a fair amount of value to NFL front offices looking to improve their ground game next season.
Projecting Bijan Robinson’s NFL career
Any team that selects Robinson and gives him a chance at earning immediate playing time could be looking at the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s that good.
Robinson, using both his strengths as a rusher while also receiving opportunities as a pass-catcher, could top 1,000 yards on the ground as a rookie and could certainly chip in another 300-500 through the air as well, depending on his workload.
Robinson has Pro Bowl potential and could quickly become the next rising star at running back thanks to his electrifying elusiveness that often leaves defenders grasping at air.
While Robinson may be good enough to merit a top-ten selection, it’s difficult to envision such a scenario this season, thanks to likely four quarterbacks plus a trio of elite pass-rushers expected to go in the first ten picks alone.
Robinson could hear his name called at any point once the first round reaches the mid-teens. From teams selecting in this range, we have a few ideal NFL fits for Bijan Robinson:
- Detroit Lions – 18th pick
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 19th pick
- Minnesota Vikings – 23rd pick
- Buffalo Bills – 27th pick
- Cincinnati Bengals – 28th pick
- Philadelphia Eagles – 30th pick
- Kansas City Chiefs – 31st pick
Of course, with a talent like Robinson, it also wouldn’t be surprising to see some of the above teams move up a bit to secure the talented all-purpose back.
Who knows? The NFL team that drafts Bijan Robinson may just be selecting the next great running back to enter the pros.
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