Bijan Robinson Only Visited Two Teams
April 21st, 2023
Texas RB Bijan Robinson.
So the 30 official visits window is up. Teams are now in lockdown mode finalizing their draft boards. We are six days from the draft!
So Joe found the following piece from Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, by way of the Dull Patrick Show, very, very interesting.
With all the teams bringing in up to 30 players, Robinson, who some feel is the top football player in the draft (forget running back), had a grand total of two team visits. Guess who one was?
The other team? The Eagles.
Now Robinson did admit he’s done a bunch of zoom calls with teams and did a lot of phone interviews. But weirdly, 30 of the NFL’s 32 teams decided he wasn’t worth bringing in.
Does that mean teams are so convinced he’s that good they don’t need to do their homework on him? Or do teams think Robinson is going to go so high in the draft that there’s no reason to waste their time bringing him in for a visit?
Robinson did tell Dull Patrick that no team told him if he was on the board they would grab him.
Something seems really odd about all of this.
What does Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht know?
Should Bijan Robinson break the mold of not drafting a RB in the top of the draft? šÆ
"I worked in [the Eagles] organization for two years … and if there's such thing as less than a zero percent chance that it happens, that is the case there in Philadelphia." ā@MoveTheSticks pic.twitter.com/SZv84jmy9i
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 20, 2023
April 21st, 2023 at 5:12 am
Umm Joe?
Jason Licht knows that till you get some guys up front who can run block Barry Simms clone couldnt be successful here.
April 21st, 2023 at 5:13 am
New and improved OC or not.
April 21st, 2023 at 5:21 am
Licht should do his homework on what teams would trade up to 19 for him if heās still thereā¦and we can also trade diva for their 1st, 2nd, and 4th. That way we have two 2nds, and possibly a third 2nd if we trade back one more time, out of the first. Three 2nds might get us Washington, Avila, and Achane š
April 21st, 2023 at 5:30 am
Very amazing that he only visited two teams in person!
What up with that? need more intel on the issue?
Maybe he doesn’t like to fly?
very weird but glad he visited the Bucs.
Would be good to have him on our team.
April 21st, 2023 at 6:58 am
If Bijan makes it past…
Philly (10), and Houston (12) we may have a shot at him…
That being said I personally feel that drafting Bijan at (19) is the definition of putting the cart before the horse…I’d like to see use take a few Offensive Lineman in this draft…Its been proven over and over again that you can hide average players behind a great O-line… Whereas, putting good players behind a shakey O-line rarely produces positive results…
It’s not the sexy pick, but in our case it’s the right thing to do Imho…
April 21st, 2023 at 7:03 am
I wouldn’t reach for a RB. If Licht and company have done their homework there’s always good value at RB in later rounds if Robison’s not available at 19.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:18 am
@Rand…spot on sir!
April 21st, 2023 at 7:20 am
Who is this Barry Simms guy?
April 21st, 2023 at 7:24 am
A luxury that the Bucs are not ready for, although I could understand the strategy of focusing on a strong running game, they will have a good OL, to protect the uncertain emerging quarterback position.
Thankfully he wonāt be a option at 19
April 21st, 2023 at 7:25 am
Is crazy to think bucs could trade back and still draft a guy like Bijon? Starting to smell like it
April 21st, 2023 at 7:26 am
Welp, a Top-30 visit is a public display of interest, letting anybody selecting behind us know if they want Robinson they may have to get through us to get him and that’s when Licht can start questions like “what are you willing to put on the table to get him?” in order to initiate a trade. We’ve also hosted RBs like Roschon Johnson, Jahmyr Gibbs, & Chase Brown so we’ll see how this all plays out next week. Exciting times for sure.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:31 am
You’ve got to be intrigued by the thoughts of having a RB of that caliber on the Bucs with the rest of our offensive weapons.
Draft him…..OT in 2nd & big blocking TE in 3rd…..spend the 5ths on a S & CB.
Yep…I know that’s crazy & ignoring the need for an Edge rusher but..it sure sounds exciting.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:31 am
A 1st, a 2nd, and a 4th for White? Only Houston would be that dumb.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:32 am
BR will be a fire bolt on our offense!
Rd 1. Bijan Robinson -RB
Rd 2. Anton Harrison -OT
Rd. 3. Cody Mauch -G
April 21st, 2023 at 7:45 am
The running game is not a critical part of the new NFL. Sixty plus percent passing are what the top teams are doing these days. I would be surprised if he goes in the top 25.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:50 am
I think as far as the running game goes, people are really underappreciating how terrible Leftwich was at building it and how terrible Fournette was at running it and how little Brady cared about establishing it.
Blaming everything on the offensive line is what uneducated football fans do. Donovan Smithwss trash last year, make whatever excuse you want for him, he was trash. Jensen didn’t even play. Goedeke was playing out of position as a rookie.
I have no doubt they draft at least one offensive lineman, but I don’t think it’ll be in the 1st round.
If you truly want to see what Mike Evans and Chris Godwin can do to a secondary, put Bijan Robinson in the backfield. He is generational. That’s why nobody is bothering to bring him in for a face to face. There are zero cons to his game or red flags off the field. He’s the safest pick in this draft.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:54 am
Who knows if he will be good or not but I really hope we draft linemen on both sides first.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:57 am
Detroit had Barry Sanders. He was great fun to watch. The Lions didnāt have the team around him to win anything. The question is, do the Bucs have the team? Iād say not yet, but we do have a great core to build on. If we draft a generational RB in the first round, Iām fine with that, as long as a generational LT isnāt available with our first pick.
April 21st, 2023 at 7:58 am
Barry Simms is Kyler Traskfield’s cousin. Maybe he meant Billy Sims and Barry Sanders? Old Lions combo?
April 21st, 2023 at 8:04 am
Stop it with this nonsense. They arenāt taking a RB in 1st round.
April 21st, 2023 at 8:07 am
Quick, someone name the last time a RB led a team to the Super Bowl
April 21st, 2023 at 8:09 am
Well, I’m glad someone brought up Barry Sanders. He’s one example of a RB that can make an OL look good. While I agree in principle to the notion of a better OL, it glosses over the fact that the play-calling was predictably atrocious. Good OL or not, if the defense knows what’s coming, the chances of success dwindle.
I’m more curious about the play-calling.
One final thought: A good RB doesn’t need gaping holes to be successful.
April 21st, 2023 at 8:11 am
Here’s what I know. We passed on Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook. Does it really matter when the RB is drafted if they are studs? Stop overthinking it. We must draft him if he’s available at 19.
April 21st, 2023 at 8:19 am
@Erick
Otis Anderson Super Bowl XXV MVP 1986
April 21st, 2023 at 8:22 am
@Erick
Emmitt Smith Super Bowl XXIII MVP 1993
April 21st, 2023 at 8:24 am
Thanks for proving my point Rand
April 21st, 2023 at 8:26 am
@Erick
Walter Payton Super Bowl XX MVP 1985
April 21st, 2023 at 8:36 am
@Erick
The last was Terrell Davis in 1997
April 21st, 2023 at 8:36 am
Derrick Henry. Nick Chubb.
Other than that, name a running back, who has been at the top of his game and led the league in rushing and not been hurt multiple times over the last couple years. Christian McCaffrey? Saquon Barkley?
Donāt invest in a RB unless heās durable
April 21st, 2023 at 8:40 am
@ModHairKen
Speaking of one of the most durable that never got a lot of credit RB Frank Gore
April 21st, 2023 at 8:40 am
@Erick Marshawn Lynch, Jerome Bettis come to mind
But you are right.
April 21st, 2023 at 8:49 am
Defense/running game with a moderately decent QB have gotten to Super Bowls before. Hell, I wouldn’t call Jalen Hurts anything more than a running back who can pass a little. Peyton Manning in SB 50 was a shell of his former self, but that defense was insane, and they used the zone running game under Kubiak to drive the offense. They had a committee approach, if I recall. Getting a Robinson to lead a strong RB committee, with Evans/Godwin not allowing teams to go 8 in the box sounds like a winner to me.
April 21st, 2023 at 9:29 am
If Licht pops for the Dijon guy Iāll swallow and be happy because he and his staff will have done all the homework and do what is best for the team.
But Iām for trenches first, but the BPA philosophy is also hard to argue with.
April 21st, 2023 at 9:49 am
Vontae Mack no matter what
April 21st, 2023 at 9:56 am
So Dave Canales comes from Seattle.
That team has drafted 1st round RBs a lot it seems lately.
Penny comes to mind albeit later.
I think Canales is pinning for him.
Rachaad White saying he expects to be a stud could be a perfect smoke screen if so.
And if the Bucs do trade up, God I hope its not for one of the āTopā QBs.
There isnāt one this year. Get a STUD lineman.
April 21st, 2023 at 10:10 am
@William, they would have our 19th to get Bijan is what i was saying (read it again)….we would have their later 1st, then their probably a late 2nd and late 4th….it would have to be a team really needing that LB position filled and ready to go into the playoffs.
April 21st, 2023 at 10:44 am
It’d hard to be too upset if we took him at 19 since he’s like top 5 on everyone’s big boards and would be a huge weapon also in the pass game
April 21st, 2023 at 11:23 am
Although I don’t want us to go RB with our 1st pick, this guy has the potential to become a beast in the NFL. And if he falls to us…….
April 21st, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Iām with Max and want to get on the Achane. But heās probably gone by the 4th round and we need the trenches and edge help, plus depth in the secondary, TE help and another QB to compete with Traskfield. And world peace and a robust economy and unlimited Big Storm on tap.
April 21st, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Bijan Robinson stats look GREAT but I can’t find 1 game,last season, where he looked like a game changer against ranked teams with equal or better talent than Texas( to me teams like Baylor & Kansas don’t count). Some would say Bama had a down season, talent wise, with no standout WRs or TEs so their #1 offensive threat was Jahmyr Gibbs so every week every opponent knew that yet Gibbs produced EVERY week!( same outcome at G Tech)
Saquon B>Robinson
Josh J > Robinson
YES Jahmyr Gibbs >Robinson
April 21st, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
Itād hard to be too upset if we took him at 19 since heās like top 5 on everyoneās big boards and would be a huge weapon also in the pass game
—————————
Sounds good – until you remember it was the exact same scenario with drafting OJ Howard….
April 21st, 2023 at 8:18 pm
All we are hearing about this offense is they are going to run the ball if that’s the case then take Robinson in rd 1 cuz white is not going to get it done.
April 22nd, 2023 at 8:24 am
It’s not a reach taking a top 5 talent in the draft there, that’s called value.