A running back last made it to the top ten picks of the NFL Draft in 2018. That was Saquon Barkley, who went for No. 2 overall. A new rule since then has been not to include a running back in the top ten picks of the NFL Draft. Last year, for instance, Breece Hall went in No. 36 overall.
That is only for the last year, with many examples lined up since 2018. However, the 2023 NFL Draft pick could be a little different. It brings the potential to replicate the 2018 pick, with Bijan Robinson likely to be picked in the top ten as a running back.
Many teams like Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and Dallas are investing their efforts to acquire Robinson as their player. What makes the fresh-out-of-college running back a hot commodity is his set of skills. He has been amazing as a running back and also as a receiver in the back. His numbers speak for themselves.
The previous season saw Bijan register 18 touchdowns with a running of 1,580 yards. He averaged 6.1 YPC to catch 60 passes for 805 yards during his college career. Eight TDs are worth highlighting as well. Bijan Robinson was seen running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine at 215 pounds. Also, his 10-yard split remains the 3rd-fastest among the running backs.
Per the trend, or as earlier referred to as a rule, running backs go best at No. 24 in the Draft picks. Najee Harris, for one, was seen climbing the ladder at No. 24, followed by Travis Etienne at No. 25 in the 2021 NFL Draft. A year before that saw Clyde Edwards-Helaire get picked at No. 32.
A similar picture was put across the fans last year when Breece Hall was picked at No. 36 overall. Robinson has the talent to change the Football game at any moment. Hence, he is likely to be picked pretty quickly by the teams. A similar tone has been echoed by Daniel Jeremiah and Todd McShay in the podcast interview with Ryen Russillo. Daniel and Todd said that they have talked to a few teams, and most of them are considering picking the running back in the top six prospects in the class. People considering picking Robinson early also include those who are proponents of not picking a running back in the first round.
As of now, the Cowboys and Buccaneers appear to be leading the race to have Robinson in their teams.
Meanwhile, there are some Linebackers who are expected to be picked in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to NFL sportsbook. These are Jack Campbell, Drew Sanders, Trenton Simpson Clemson, and Daiyan Henley. Cornerbacks who could be picked are Brian Branch, Christian Gonzalez, and Devon Witherspoon.
All eyes, for now, are on Bijan Robinson making it to the top-ten pick for the 2023 NFL Draft. Assuming he makes it to the list, it would be a turning point for the running back in NFL picks.
