The case against the Eagles drafting RB Bijan Robinson

Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson. Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

The case against the Eagles drafting Texas RB Bijan Robinson

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 3/22/23

Texas’ Bijan Robinson is a generational talent, considered a first-round pick by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and others, but running backs don't carry teams to championships nowadays. So the Eagles — who have two first-round picks (Nos. 10 and 30 overall) — should pass and address other needs in Round 1.

Najee Harris (Steelers) and Travis Etienne (Jaguars) were drafted in the first round in 2021 NFL. Since drafting Harris, the Steelers are 18-15-1. Etienne missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury and has only five touchdowns despite playing in all 17 games last season.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire was taken 32nd overall by the Chiefs in 2020 but can hardly take credit for their recent championship. He didn’t play at all in Super Bowl LVII, while seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco had 15 carries and is now the team's top running back.

A year earlier, the Raiders took Alabama’s Josh Jacobs with the 24th overall pick. He’s a fantastic player, but Las Vegas has only one playoff appearance — a loss to Cincinnati in the wild-card round — during his tenure.

Sony Michel, Rashaad Penny and Saquon Barkley were taken with first-round picks in 2018. Of the three, only Barkley remains with his original team. After five disappointing seasons with the Seahawks, Penny is now an Eagle and Michel has been with four teams in five years.

Bijan Robinson did in fact fly into Philly last night to have a pre-draft meeting with the #Eagles today, per @MikeGarafolo. pic.twitter.com/Xc1ME2PMCW
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) March 21, 2023

NFL teams don’t value the running backs as they did decades ago. For every Marshawn Lynch, there are 10 Darren McFaddens. The shelf life of an NFL running back has made the position somewhat expendable compared to his actual value, especially as the league becomes more pass-oriented.

Still, many believe Robinson will be a top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The latest mock draft from ESPN's Todd McShay has the Eagles taking Robinson at No. 10, but don’t believe the hype.

Philadelphia hasn’t taken a first-round running back since Keith Byars in 1986. More recently, the team’s backfield-by-committee approach has taken them to two Super Bowls in the past six years. If another team wants to trade up to get Robinson, Philadelphia will take offers, which is probably why they met with him in the first place.

Wherever he goes, Robinson should have an outstanding career, but so should players such as Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs and UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet. Neither should cost a first-round pick or the chance to add talent at more critical positions.

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