It was not that long ago when running back was one of the least valuable positions in the NFL. However, with Saquon Barkley earning an average annual salary of $20.6 million, and the idea of Bijan Robinson possibly getting a better contract, it shows how much the league has changed.
Is Bijan Robinson Worthy of a Historic Contract?
Former NFL safety and Super Bowl champion Tyrann Mathieu raised the possibility of Robinson getting a better deal than Barkley and all of the other running backs in the league.
“Will Bijan Robinson be the first 30M running back????” he posted on X.
Looking at Robinson’s career, does he deserve to become the highest-paid running back in the league by nearly a margin of $10 million?
Robinson entered the 2023 NFL Draft with a lot of hype after a superb college career. As a Texas Longhorn, Robinson was a highlight reel, dazzling fans with his fantastic athleticism and IQ.
Robinson ended up getting selected with the No. 8 pick in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have had many great backs in the 2000s, including Michael Turner, Devonta Freeman, and Warrick Dunn. Even though he has played for only three years, Robinson might be the best.
Robinson had a solid rookie year, recording 976 rushing yards. This was a solid number that he built upon each year. In his sophomore campaign, Robinson ran for 1,456 yards, and last season, he had 1,478 rushing yards.
Not only does Robinson have excellent volume, but his effectiveness is outstanding as well. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season. This ranked fourth among running backs in the NFL.
According to PFSN’s RB Impact Metric, Robinson posted an impact score of 86.5 last season, ranking third at his position. He also earned First-Team All-Pro honors and made the Pro Bowl for the second straight season.
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There are two other reasons that Robinson deserves the payday. The first is that he had his outstanding season last year with subpar quarterback play. Both Falcons quarterbacks who started, Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, received a C- grade in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric. Penix Jr. ranked 31st, and Cousins ranked 30th.
Teams facing the Falcons were less focused on the pass and could focus more on Robinson. However, that did not stop him from being the offensive force he was.
Another factor is the Falcons’ offensive line. The unit is not terrible, but it is not outstanding either. According to PFSN’s Offensive Line Impact Metric, the unit ranked 21st and received a C-.
This is one of the reasons Robinson deserves more money than Barkley, as the Eagles’ line has usually been one of the best units in the NFL.
Another reason Robinson deserves a better contract than Barkley is that the Falcons star is great in the receiving game as well. Over his career, Robinson has had a total of 1,738 receiving yards. His highest receiving yards in a season were 820 yards, which he recorded last year.
If Robinson gets the payday, he would be worth every cent. His play could continue to improve as the Falcons hired former head coach Kevin Stefanski. Before coming to Atlanta, Stefanski coached the Cleveland Browns. During his time there, Stefanski coached an effective running game.
Overall, while some may view Robinson’s projected contract as unworthy, the 24-year-old running back has shown that his value is truly extraordinary.
