NFL Draft 2023: 5 best picks of the first round

Bijan Robinson is a franchise cornerstone running back for the Atlanta Falcons

I don’t care if I’m biased, this pick was awesome. A lot will be made about my Atlanta Falcons passing on Georgia star defensive tackle Jalen Carter, but he was never going to play for the Dirty Birds. I have no issues with any perceived character issues he might have, but I know that Atlanta cannot afford to bring in anyone with any sort of red flags right now. Bijan Robinson fits perfectly.

There were two guys I felt very strongly that Atlanta would take in the first round: Robinson and Carter’s new and former teammate Nolan Smith, who joins him on the Philadelphia Eagles. I could just sense the Atlanta brass was enamored with Robinson’s playing style, character and on-field explosiveness. It doesn’t matter that he plays running back. He is the next LaDainian Tomlinson!

That was the player Atlanta would have taken had the Falcons not traded up for Michael Vick way back in 2001. Given that Arthur Smith loves to run the football, Robinson is the perfect piece to add to the offense built around an unproven second-year quarterback in Desmond Ridder. Every acquisition the Falcons have made this offseason has been methodical. They drafted a superstar!

This feels like owner Arthur Blank drafting one of his favorites Warrick Dunn out of Florida State.