It is officially draft week in the NFL world, which means rumors, smokescreens, and speculation are running rampant throughout the entire league.
This years class of prospects is certainly an interesting one. While there aren’t many “blue chip” players, some positions (like tight end and cornerback) are as deep as they’ve been while others (safety and QB) leave much to be desired.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson is one of the few blue-chippers. Here’s a look at where FanDuel Sportsbook predicts he’ll be drafted:
Bijan Robinson Draft Position
OVER Pick 13.5 EVEN
UNDER Pick 13.5 -132
Notice something? The Patriots pick at 14.
Robinson ran for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Longhorns in 2022. He’s a patient runner who would probably be the number one overall pick in like 2005. He is, however, limited as a pass catcher – a trait that teams value in a running back in 2023.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote about the possibility of New England selecting Robinson this morning in his Sunday column:
4. Bijan scenario: When it comes to intriguing draft storylines, where Texas running back Bijan Robinson is picked is among them. Robinson is widely viewed as one of the more talented players (ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay rates him No. 2) but is expected to be picked later because running backs are generally devalued these days. Thus, here’s a question that could become a factor inside the Patriots’ draft room: If Robinson slides to No. 14, would it be a worthy pick given the limited blue-chip options available? “This is a pretty special player, and it’s a unique draft that he is in,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said.
New England’s interest was documented earlier this month by The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. Howe wrote that the Patriots are “building the running game around Rhamondre Stevenson and have quietly shown interest in adding another blue-chip back in the draft.” He later tweeted that they are “absolutely intrigued” by Robinson.
This would undoubtedly be an interesting selection. In the NFL Draft world, there’s a constant back and both between drafting for need versus “best player available”. While Robinson would likely be the best player on the board at 14, they really don’t need to draft a running back this early given what Rhamondre Stevenson has done for them at the position.
Stevenson ran for 1,040 yards and 5 touchdowns on 210 carries last season in his first campaign as New England’s lead back. He also showed great ability as a pass catcher, hauling in 69 passes for 421 yards as a security blanket for Mac Jones.
Whether this reported “interest” and “intrigue” in Robinson is real on the Patriots’ end will only be found out on Thursday.
My take? New England should draft for need early on. Bring in a cornerback, wide receiver, or tackle at 14 and let Stevenson carry the load at RB.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @PatriotsCLNS for the latest up-to-date Patriots news!
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