Player #3: Bijan Robinson, RB Texas
#24 Texas @ #13 Kansas State, 7:00 PM
Bijan Robinson is looking like the best running back prospect in the draft this cycle. Although the Buffalo Bills just traded for Nyheim Hines who has a contract that runs until 2025, Robinson is a really good prospect who could replace Devin Singletary, whose contract is expiring.
Robinson is the ultimate well-rounded prospect at running back. Robinson has really good power, instincts, and speed. Robinson is quick around the line of scrimmage and makes really high IQ decisions as a runner. My favorite trait about Robinson is that he is a really good pass-blocker and a threat out of the backfield.
The only real knock on Robinson is that we haven’t really seen NFL-level breakaway speed. He has the type of speed and acceleration to win through the line of scrimmage and beat several college defensive backs with speed but lacks that type of long-run breakaway speed.
Robinson is no doubt one of the top, if not the top, running back prospects in the draft. His testing won’t make a huge difference in his draft stock but I am sure that teams are really interested in what his 40-yard dash and 10-yard split will be at the combine; if he decides to test.
“This kid may be the best player in the sport. This kid is big time.”
— ESPN (@espn) October 9, 2021
BIJAN ROBINSON, WHAT A RUN 😳 pic.twitter.com/oxWpxlfplT
This projection seemed a lot better just one week ago before the Buffalo Bills had traded for Nyheim Hines who is under contract for the next two seasons after this one. Hines and James Cook are under contract for next year and the Buffalo Bills could be satisfied enough with that backfield that investing high draft capital into a running back is no longer on the table.
The counterpoint here is that if neither Hines nor Cook can assert themselves for the rest of this season the Bills will be looking for a running back who can be the main guy and carry the load. There is no better option than Bijan Robinson for that type of role in this draft.