It's been a while since the NFL has seen a running back prospect enter the league as good as newly-drafted Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson.
According to Sam Monson, of Pro Football Focus, Robinson rivals, and has more upside than, several names who have thrived in the NFL.
"Bijan Robinson is the best running back prospect to come into the NFL since PFF has been grading college football," said Monson. "That goes back to 2014, which means (he's) a better prospect than Saquon Barkley, a better prospect than Christian McCaffrey, even Zeke Elliott. He's about as good as it gets. You could probably go back to Adrian Peterson in 2007 to get to that kind of quality running back prospect."
Peterson was Rookie of the Year in 2007, and MVP in 2012, and rushed for 14,918 yards in the NFL. Barkley was Rookie of the Year in 2018. McCaffrey has three 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons since entering the league in 2017, and has cemented his status as one of the best pass-catching rushers around.
Robinson has upside galore, and Monson believes his fit with the Falcons is tremendous.
"I think he can be a phenomenal running back in the NFL," Monson said. "And the great news for Atlanta is they already have a functioning running game, he doesn't need to come in a fix something by himself they way Najee Harris did in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago. He can step into an already good, thriving run game and just add value on top of that.
"I think Atlanta is probably the highest that you could reasonably justify taking him when you factor in the situation of what he's going to have to step into and the opportunity cost for taking him as well as the contract at that point. But, the potential of what he could be in this offense is special."
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