The Atlanta Falcons have a running back problem. That’s not a bad thing. Bijan Robinson, their 24-year-old star, just got the nod as the No. 1 running back in the NFL from ESPN. But it wasn’t a runaway vote.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler told Courtney Cronin that Robinson barely edged out Jahmyr Gibbs. The margin came down to a few things. Robinson racked up nearly 2,300 all-purpose yards last season. He’s also got a size advantage over Gibbs, which gave him the final push.
“He can make a positive play out of nothing,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “When the blocking has failed, it’s looking bleak, he can still break off 60-yard runs. He’s good in the passing game, 79 catches last year, so he can really do it all.”
Robinson put up monster numbers in 2025. He ran for 1,478 yards and seven touchdowns on 287 carries. He also caught 79 passes for 820 yards and four scores. That’s 2,298 yards from scrimmage, which is the kind of production that gets a guy paid.
And the Falcons know it. According to reports, Atlanta is already trying to work out a contract extension this summer. The expected price tag is north of $20 million per season. That would make Robinson the highest-paid running back in the NFL, leapfrogging Saquon Barkley.
Here’s the thing. Bijan is absolutely worth it. But the timing is tricky. Training camp starts July 24 for rookies, July 28 for veterans. The first full team practice is July 29. Nobody knows yet if Robinson will show up without a new deal.
Fowler made the point clear. Robinson is in position to dominate for the next half decade. The Falcons know this. Which is why they’re trying to lock him down now.
It’ll be fascinating to watch how this plays out. Robinson has the leverage. He’s coming off a career year. He’s young. He’s durable. And he’s the guy who turns broken plays into 60-yard touchdowns. If you’re the Falcons, you don’t let that walk out the door.
But we’ll see what happens when camp opens. The clock is ticking.
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