Bijan Robinson NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report
Texas Running Back Bijan Robinson Scouting Report for the 2023 NFL Draft
By markoldacres
Name: Bijan Robinson
School: Texas
Year: Jr
Position: Running Back
Measurables: 5’11”, 215 lbs.
Combine: Vertical- 37”, Broad- 10’4”, 40-yard dash- 4.46 seconds.
Stats:
Courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
General Info:
Robinson is from Tucson, Arizona where he attended Salpointe Catholic High School. He set an Arizona state record after rushing for an incredible 7,036 yards and 114(!) touchdowns.
During his final season in high school, he rushed for 2,235 yards and 38 touchdowns, earning him the Arizona Gatorade Football Player of the Year award.
After being tabbed as a five-star recruit, Robinson committed to Texas and did not take long to make his mark.
He played in nine games as a freshman and rushed for a ridiculous 8.2 yards per carry, before putting on a show in Texas’ bowl game, putting up 183 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries.
In his final two seasons with the longhorns, Robinson became the workhorse back, rushing for well over 1,000 yards in each campaign. He also had over 800 receiving yards in his college career.
Despite his experience, Robinson does not turn 22 until January 2023.
Positional Skills:
Strengths
Robinson has excellent athleticism for the position, posting a 9.81 Relative Athletic Score out of a possible 10 (pending agility testing), and yet, that is not close to his biggest selling point.
His special trait is simply his feel for how to run the ball. Robinson was born to play running back.
He has a great sense for the soft spot in a defense and hits the hole decisively. Robinson can also adjust quickly when necessary to find daylight. You will see him sell set up defenders and bounce outside to evade them.
Robinson can easily gear up and down or change direction and has the invaluable ability to get more than what is blocked for him.
Tackling Robinson is not easy. He shows impressive contact balance and has a strong upper body. He can pick through a crowd and burrow forward for extra yards.
In addition to his prowess running the ball, Robinson brings plenty to the passing game.
As a receiver, he can run deeper routes from the backfield and was split out wide at Texas as well. Robinson has safe hands and shows he can adjust to more difficult passes.
Robinson was used plenty in pass protection and got the job done.
Weaknesses
Any criticisms of Robinson feel like nit picking. He is such a polished player it is difficult to find anything negative to say.
At times he struggled to remain balanced when defenders tackled him low and could be toppled. He may need to build up his lower body a bit more to stay on his feet.
While he can fight for extra yards and is by no means a smaller back, Robinson is not what you would call a bruiser. He will miss a block in pass protection from time to time as well.
Durability could be a concern due to the sheer workload he was tasked with at Texas. Robinson carried the ball 198 times in 2021 and 258 in 2022.
Fit with the Packers:
Overall, Robinson is as good of a natural, savvy, pro-ready running back as you will ever see entering the draft. In a different era, he would be one of the first few names called in the draft without question.
In the year 2023, there’s a legitimate change he is available when the Packers are on the clock in the first round, but would they take him?
The running back position has been devalued in recent years, and Green Bay already has a strong backfield consisting of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, so there would not appear to be much reason to take Robinson.
But with Dillon due to hit free agency in 2024 and Jones in 2025, the Packers could secure a premium, long-term solution in Robinson.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (31)
BirdDogUni
March 14, 2023 at 06:32 pm
Doubt we draft him, but his running mate, Roschon Johnson should be a possibility, IMO.
Leatherhead
March 14, 2023 at 07:32 pm
Said my brother from another mother. I've been on Roschon Johnson in the early 4th for a long time. He'd be perfect for us.
I'm a Running Backs guy. Move the ball with the running backs. And I like that about half our plays go to the RB. But in the event of injury, we need a #3 and another guy on the practice squad. We have some internal candidates, like Taylor and Goodson, but that's about it. This is the last year of Dillon's contract, and maybe Jones' too. So it'd be nice to get another horse ready who could haul the rock.
On Bijan, I'll just say this: If you were taking over a bad team, like the Bears, and you wanted to become respectable as soon as possible, you'd draft a guy like Bijan and give him the ball plenty. You'd put blockers on the field and just grind. He'd improve your defense more than any other player because he'd keep them off the field.
If you were the Bears, for example, and you put Justin Fields and Bijan Robinson behind a good offensive line and you've got a real good shot at making the playoffs.
dobber
March 15, 2023 at 09:40 am
Roschon Johnson = Jamaal Williams 2.0...more of a straight-ahead type power-gap guy. Does a lot of the little things.
stockholder
March 14, 2023 at 06:34 pm
My Favorite Player in this draft.
Leatherhead
March 14, 2023 at 08:11 pm
Well, I'll try not to hold that against him.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 14, 2023 at 06:47 pm
As I have said many times the Packers should really consider drafting him and playing him both in the slot, and at RB rotating with AJ. Pretty much everyone considers him to be one of the top 3 or 5 best players in the draft. He is Barry Sanders Jr. with better hands. He is an exceptional receiver and as the article says he split out wide often. This guy is a dual threat if the Packers were creative and used him correctly. I hope the Packers consider drafting him. Certainly would not have any problems with them drafting him but if he is even available they would likely need to draft him with their first pick in round 1.
Seriously, if you have not seen this guy play check this Youtube video out. It is insane! Let me know if you watched and you still don't think he would be great as a universal threat in a dual role as RB, but also slot WR. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6_-6GxlW4I
jannesbjornson
March 14, 2023 at 08:04 pm
Kenny McIntosh. RB/Flanker guy.
Tundraboy
March 14, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Yes. Wow!
Tundraboy
March 14, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Yes. Wow!
Tundraboy
March 14, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Yes. Wow!
Thegreatreynoldo
March 15, 2023 at 05:42 am
I am against drafting RBs in the first round, but Robinson looks like an exception to that rule. He looks truly dynamic.
LambeauPlain
March 15, 2023 at 09:51 am
There...you went and did it, didn't you? Thanks Knock! OK, I'm hooked.
I do note his Longhorn O line was pretty good opening up gaping holes. But wow...Kid has unbelievable power and cutting ability. Just makes would be tacklers look silly.
He has many of the same attributes AJ has...great vision, balance and patience to wait for his blockers...then bam! He's gone.
Reminds me of a certain RB the Packers should have drafted instead of Roid Man Mandarich!
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 15, 2023 at 02:32 pm
Lambeau,
Yea, I am sorry but damn this guy is too good to pass up. He doesn't meet the Packers biggest needs this year at least, and why I say the Packers need to draft him and be as creative as hell with him. He should be on the field every single down without sacrificing AJ's. Going to be very painful to see him drafted by someone else, particularly an NFC North team like the Vikings.
MooPack
March 14, 2023 at 07:10 pm
Now were talking. Not going to make it past Philly though. If he is, that would be a very hard pass to make. McShay is right "exception to the rule"
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 14, 2023 at 07:16 pm
This year, I have a lot of favorite players I'd like to see drafted in round 1. Never going to have enough picks. LOL!
Passing Bijan Robinson would be tough! Passing on any of Quentin Johnston, Bijan Robinson, Lukas Van Ness, Tyree Wilson, or a Dalton Kincaid would be tough as any of them would greatly improve the Packers. Any of these are my guys in round 1. Yes, I have left off Washington but only because I think there are other TE's in round 2 that are exceptional as well.
stockholder
March 14, 2023 at 08:01 pm
The Possibility Of Johnston
Cannot be ruled out.
( If #12 Leaves.)
You look the other way on drops.
And take him over a TE.
Now that Lazard Left.
jannesbjornson
March 14, 2023 at 08:06 pm
Quite a few Lazard profiles in the mid-rounds. He probably brings Tonyan back.
stockholder
March 14, 2023 at 08:12 pm
Actually I think if Rodgers Goes to NY,
The Jets include a TE. (Trade)
IMO Tonyan should come back.
The top TE 40 times just don't
seem like a good value fit.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 15, 2023 at 11:46 am
Agree with both Jannes & SH in that there are a lot of WR's in the draft that seem to match up with Lazard. I also agree there is a very high possibility of one of the 4 Jet's TE's are traded. The downside is I don't believe any of them are exceptional. Tonyan if fiscally possible should be brought back.
At present, I think the Pack is drafting either Quentin Johnston, or Dalton Kincaid in round 1. Possibly both if available.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 14, 2023 at 08:25 pm
Jones, Adams, Doubs, Watson they all had dropsies in their first year or two. It seems rare to find a WR who doesn't have some drop issues coming out of college. I think it is the velocity of throws combined with the small window these rookies deal with.
Johnston will be a very good player and is what I consider a major upside over Lazard. My big question though is would Gutey take Johnston over Kincaid? I think he is in love with Dalton Kincaid and what he could do for the offense.
splitpea1
March 14, 2023 at 07:27 pm
Somebody's going to be getting a very talented, complete young RB who has even been compared to Marshall Faulk. But the Packers have glaring needs at S, WR, and TE before they should even be looking at RBs. Maybe if we didn't re-sign Jones it would be more in the realm of possibility.
Leatherhead
March 14, 2023 at 08:10 pm
The Drama about our former QB is distracting us, but the team is rebuilding and preparing to go. At safety, they're still talking to Amos, still have Savage, still are looking at FAs. Gutekunst's Modus Operandi is to fill needs in FA before the draft, and if starting safety isn't a need, then I don't know what is. So I really suspect we're going to see some action at Safety in free agency.
Similarly, at WR, we have starters. We don't really have a starter at TE, but that's kind of an unimportant part of the passing offense we run and as long as they're getting their guy blocked, it's good.
I am hoping/praying that we trade down from pick #15, but if we don't, and if Bijan is there, he's on that short list of guys we'd have to think hard about. I mean, this guy is probably an upgrade on Aaron Jones, who is already one of the better weapons in the league.
I think he'd help the defense by keeping it on the sideline, I think he'd help the offense as a rusher and receiver, and it'd be nice to know he was our guy for the next several years. Jones could easily be a one year fix, I don't know. Could I see Dillon and Jones both gone after 2023? Sure. But it'd be fine by me if we had Bijan with blockers in front of him.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 14, 2023 at 08:16 pm
LH, I can see you really are in tune with what the Packers truly need from the draft. There are good Edge rushers pretty much through a good part of the draft. I'd love to see Gutey go offense heavy & hard early on and when a good Edge, or CB/Safety that matches up with the pick is there select them.
Leatherhead
March 14, 2023 at 09:39 pm
It all supposes we only have our own picks in the first three rounds. If that were to change, then it would certainly create some options.
Gutekunst really values edge pressure and those guys go early in the draft.w
We need help at the skill positions, but I can't honestly say we don't have starters. On defense, we truly don't have a starter at Safety, or until Gary comes back, at Edge.
I'd love to load up the offense, including the blockers, but we've got to line up on defense, too.
splitpea1
March 14, 2023 at 09:58 pm
I sure as hell hope they're still talking to Ford because he can tackle and contributes on special teams and defense. He's a valuable depth piece and should be affordable.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 14, 2023 at 08:27 pm
Why not draft Bijan as a slot WR for now as he is a talented receiver. Play him in the slot and occasionally rotate him at RB when AJ is on the sideline. Definitely an upgrade over the talented AJ, but he will likely only play for the Pack another year. Just wanting everyone to think out of the box and how he could be used.
golfpacker1
March 14, 2023 at 07:33 pm
He is a real game changing stud Knock, no doubt about it. But if I am drafting him that high he is playing now and we trade Aaron Jones for at least a 2nd round pick and a lower pick after during the draft. It makes too much sense to pass on him if available with the cap hits Jones has the next 2 years. Jones is really good but this guy upgrades our offense to another level and really takes pressure off Love.
The other side of this though is if he does fall to us (and I really don't think he will), what a bigtime trade chip he would be. We could name our price starting with our trading partners 1st round picks this year and next year plus a 2nd this year. And I'll bet multiple teams would be bidding.
If we don't pick Robinson my favorites in this draft and they wouldn't cost a 1st or 2nd round pick, would be Tyjae Spears-Tulane, Eric Gray-Oklahoma, and Roschon Johnson-Texas. Later round sleepers @ RB Keaton Mitchell-East Carolina, Dwayne Mcbride-UAB or Evan Hull-Northwester. Spears is my draft darling by far.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 14, 2023 at 08:18 pm
Thanks GP!
LambeauPlain
March 15, 2023 at 09:19 am
The last time the Packers drafted a RB in the first was 1990...Darrell Thompson, MN.
In fact, to find a real difference maker for the Packers at RB in Rd 1 you have to go to John Brockington in 1971...then Hornung in 1957.
Would Gutey make history?
Gutey would get crucified in the media and by some fans by drafting Robinson with glaring needs at S, TE, Edge. But if BAP is still the MO in Green Bay (it rarely is in actual practice), Robinson fits it.
As Knock has stated, if MLF does actually run his IOC offense as advertised, Robinson could play all over the field, including slot, motion, screens, split wide...he'd be a chain mover.
Love would love him.
golfpacker1
March 15, 2023 at 11:18 am
Number one I don't think we will draft a RB in 1st round or that early, but I also wouldn't see anyone really blasting the Packers if they picked Robinson. You don't get the chance to draft a gamechanger player hardly ever. The word bust and this guy are not in the same book let alone same sentence. As good as Jones has been Bijan is undenably an upgrade, but he would need to start, not be a part time player after spending that pick passing on position of need starter. If the Pack took him they should immediatley reach out to every team needin a running back to trade Aaron Jones and I think his market would be strong. Buffalo alone would give us a 2nd rounder and maybe more for Jones. The pick or picks we got for jones would allow us the opportunity to pick what we passed on and would be in effect a trade back for picks but we still got a steal.
We really need a RB in this draft but probably later. Maybe Spears or Gray, they both run and catch really well. Maybe Roschon Johnson, Dwayne Mcbride or Evan Hull later. All fit the complete back model.
But, wouldn't it send some shock waves if we picked Robinson. The draft is a blast, I can't wait.
dekan51
March 15, 2023 at 06:24 pm
I think the best way to help JL would be by drafting Bijan. I was hoping we didn't extend A Jones, but we did. he's good but not great. fumbles WAY TOO much. Bijan could be a real difference maker for JL and the Pack. I'd love to see it happen. Gosh I hope we get a 1st from the Jets......