The Cincinnati Bengals could draft a running back as early as the first round this year.
That’s almost independent of the Joe Mixon situation, as it remains a mystery as to whether the team will ask him to take a pay cut or outright let him go.
That speaks to how much the Joe Burrow led-offense could benefit from a versatile back and to the talent of a class headliner like Bijan Robinson out of Texas. While a fantastic prospect, it’s impossible to get a read on where he might come off the board due to the devalued nature of his position.
Robinson is second overall on our Bengals draft board.
Here’s a quick profile on Robinson before the Bengals walk to the podium.
Background
Texas running back Bijan Robinson earned the highest overall draft score of any prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft (96).
Will Robinson be the first running back selected in the first 20 picks of the NFL Draft since Saquon Barkley was picked second overall in 2018? pic.twitter.com/MDMKh6pVQQ
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 25, 2023
All-time high-school leader in rushing yards at Salpointe High School in Tucson, Arizona (7,036) and touchdowns (114). At Texas, ran for 703 yards on an 8.2 average as a freshman, was first-team All-Big 12 in 2021 and in 2022 won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back and was also a first-team Associated Press All-American and All-Big 12 selection.
Numbers to know
Bijan Robinson’s game is so smooth, it makes everything he does look easy. pic.twitter.com/bn9Q6kSDEU
— Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) April 19, 2023
Measurables: 5’11”, 215 pounds
Testing: 4.46 40-yard dash, 85 athleticism Score
Stats (three seasons): 3,407 yards, 33 touchdowns. 60 catches, 803 yards, 8 TDs.
2023 PFF grade: 95.3
Expert's take
Bijan Robinson has a 97.5 CAREER rushing grade 🤯 pic.twitter.com/14tT90JSn4
— PFF (@PFF) April 20, 2023
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar ranks Kancey as the draft’s sixth-overall prospect:
Conclusion: Positional value is a fickle thing, and it’s far from absolute. There are those who will automatically criticize any team that takes a running back in the first round of any draft, and it’s really missing the overall point. Overall, running backs are like insurance — they don’t matter until they do, and when they do, they REALLY do. Especially when we’re talking about a running back who pins the needle with every attribute for the position, and adds legitimate value as a multi-level receiver. Robinson is the best non-quarterback and non-defensive player in this class, and were we talking about another era, he could be No. 1 overall. None of this should shadow his value and potential at the NFL level, because it’s absolute, and it’s bulletproof.
Our take
Bijan Robinson is a RB prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.84 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 29 out of 1740 RB from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/ig30DTFNCw pic.twitter.com/Q84CpWZSL0
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 18, 2023
Robinson is a no-brainer of a pick. The Bengals are a three-wideout team, but there’s untold value in having a three-down back who can gash defenses on the ground or through the air to keep defenses honest. He’d excel in the system, to say the least, and insulate the team from future possible losses such as Tyler Boyd. It would also mean moving on and saving cash on Joe Mixon’s contract. A cheap fifth year when they probably don’t want to do an extension is nice, too.
