NFL
Falcons sign RB Bijan Robinson to three-year, $75 million contract extension
This agreement felt inevitable, as Robinson has been a hold-in since the beginning of Falcons camp. Now, the star running back can get back to work and build on two straight phenomenal seasons.
Robinson, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft, was held back slightly as a rookie. His receiving exploits were immediately evident, as the Texas product tallied 58 receptions for 487 yards in Year 1. On the ground, however, Robinson was limited to 214 carries for 976 yards and four touchdowns. It’ll require a serious injury for the talented runner to dip below 1,000 yards over the next several campaigns.
Robinson broke out in 2024, posting 1,456 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, earning him his first Pro Bowl berth. His performance last season wasn’t far behind, as the 24-year-old recorded 1,478 yards and seven scores. Those accolades led to Robinson making his first All-Pro team.
It’s fair to assume much of the same for Robinson over the remainder of his rookie deal. He’s arguably the best back in the NFL, surrounded by a decent offensive ecosystem. Even solid quarterback play for Atlanta would go a long way towards Robinson’s production exploding further.
Looking beyond Robinson’s rookie contract, this pact ties him to the Falcons through 2030. It guarantees him $51 million, too, and will clearly be used by the Lions and Jahmyr Gibbs as the two parties work on an extension for Robinson’s 2023 draft cohort. It’ll be interesting to see whether Gibbs’ new deal falls beneath Robinson’s. It should, but sometimes it’s better to sign after another player at the position resets the market. In short, Gibbs could eclipse $25 million per season, though it’s important to note that Robinson’s deal pays him up to that amount per year.
The Falcons, with a new front office and head coach, are in a state of transition. A fresh leadership team hasn’t stopped the franchise from doubling down on its offensive core, however. This offseason, Atlanta has extended Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Matthew Bergeron. Those are worthwhile investments in good players, but it feels like Atlanta is still figuring its situation out on the fly.
This season will tell us plenty about where the Falcons are at. In a paltry NFC South, that might just be the postseason.
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