NFL coaches and executives rank Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has been a professional for just over 14 months, but he’s already made a big impression.

Robinson, 22, was ranked the sixth-best running back in the NFL by league coaches and executives in a poll conducted by ESPN — and he received at least one first-place vote.

“If he gets to the second or third level, he’s going to be incredibly difficult to tackle,” an unnamed NFL offensive coach told Jeremy Fowler on ESPN+. “Once he gets loose, he’s got deceptive speed. He reminds me of LeSean McCoy. Very elusive. Really hard to touch him.”

Robinson, who was selected eighth overall in the 2023 draft, had a great rookie season, carrying 214 times for 976 yards and four touchdowns. He was also productive as a receiver, ranking second on the team with 58 receptions while racking up 487 yards and four additional touchdowns.

Although he finished 10th in the NFL in rushing yards last year, the external perception around Robinson is that those numbers, while illustrative of his versatility, are just the beginning of demonstrating his skill level.

“His production doesn’t just come from him — he’s a top-five talent at the position right now,” one NFL personnel evaluator told ESPN.

In 2024, Robinson is expected to be a key part of Atlanta’s new offense, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

The former Texas Longhorns star said he plans to be used in a role similar to San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, who led the NFL with 2,023 rushing yards and 21 rushing/receiving touchdowns last season.

It’s a role that new Falcons head coach Raheem Morris feels is appropriate, and Morris said if Robinson produces numbers close to McCaffrey’s, Atlanta will be thrilled.

“You have to give Bijan the ball as much as possible in as many ideal situations as possible,” Morris said during minicamp. “He’s so talented. You don’t want to limit the things he can do, but you also don’t want to dilute them to the point where he doesn’t do anything he can do well.

“When you have the ball in his hands, he makes balls miss, he gets extra yards, he’s able to fight for extra yards, he breaks tackles, he’s fast, he’s explosive, he’s strong. He can do so many things that you can feel overwhelmed sometimes, maybe as a playmaker or even as a designer.”

The Falcons’ new staff is confident in what Robinson can do this fall, as is he — and clearly, others around the league feel the same way.