Bijan Robinson NFL Draft Scouting Report

RB, Texas Longhorns

Bijan Robinson comes from a Texas Longhorns football program that has a history of producing some of college football’s most talented running backs. Robinson fits that mold, finishing fourth all-time at the University of Texas in rushing yards. Throughout Robinson’s career, he has strung together great single-game performances and season, being named an All-American and winning the 2022 Doak Walker Award. At 6-foot and 220 pounds, Robinson has the modern prototype build combined with great athletic traits that allow him to be an X-factor player from the running back position. Robinson has the skill set to not only be dominant in the run game but also has plus-level traits that positively affect the passing game as well. 

From the handoff, Robinson does a great job of scanning the line of scrimmage from the frontside to the backside of the play, not letting early penetration speed up his process to find any developing holes—he has the whole line of scrimmage available to him. Robinson also showed the advanced ability to set up blocks and set up second-level defenders by presenting himself in one hole just to be able to move the defender and get to another hole. 

In the hole, Robinson’s lateral agility and elusiveness are special. Robinson plays with great tempo and balance and can consistently make defenders miss in tight, confined spaces. Robinson’s balance plays a huge part in his success because even when defenders are able to make contact with him, he bonuses right off of them and continues to work up the field to pick up positive yardage. Working to third-level defenders, Robinson has shown to be able to run through smaller defenders and make an explosive lateral cut by putting his foot in the ground or using his plus-level speed to simply outrun defenders. Robinson has special ability as a runner and is a threat to take a run the distance on any given handoff. 

In the passing game, Robinson positively affects the game. He is a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield. Robinson ran every route at Texas, from swing passes to wheel routes 30-plus yards down the field. He was even being motioned out of the backfield to line up at the receiver position. On plays where Robinson is asked to stay in and block, he has shown to be a high-IQ player and knows his responsibility, effectively picking up blitzes and free runners to the quarterback. The combination of receiving skills and pass protection makes Robinson a three-down running back in any offense. 

Looking at the details of Robinson’s skill set, the one identifiable improvement would be him making the decision to run with more power in between the tackles. Robinson has a bit of an upright running style and that could leave him susceptible to big hits in short-yardage or high-traffic situations. Robinson could benefit from choosing to simply lower his pads and get the tough yardage that is presented to him instead of opting to try to use his elusiveness to bounce a run or make a defender miss. 

Overall, Robinson has every skill set wanted in a modern NFL running back and is one of the best running back prospects that have entered the draft in the past 10 years. Robinson has the potential to be one of the rare running backs that can single-handedly carry a team to wins.

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Athleticism (explosive, elusive, speed)  
• Prototype build 
• Ability to positively affect the passing game (receiving, blocking)   

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Running with power 
• Injury concern

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 5’11’

Weight: 215 lbs

Arm Length: 31 1/8”

Hand Size: 9 3/4”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.46s

Vertical Jump: 37”

Broad Jump: 10’4”

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: TBD

Ideal Role: Starting running back   

Scheme Fit: Scheme-versatile prospect that is best in zone run concepts 

TDN Consensus Grade: 90.00/100 (Top-10 Overall Value)

• Sanchez Grade: 90.00/100

Written By: Keith Sanchez 

Exposures: Alabama (2022), Oklahoma (2022), Kansas State (2022), Baylor (2022),

Bijan Robinson NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.