Falcons show commitment to ground game drafting Bijan Robinson at No. 8

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Arthur Smith's commitment to the run game clearly extends to the as well.The used the No. 8 pick in Thursday's first round to select running back , placing a premium value on a position that rarely shows up that high in the draft.Robinson, who rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, is the highest-drafted running back prospect since went No. 2 overall to the in 2018. He'll join a Falcons rushing attack that already KhaDarel Hodge Jersey finished third in the NFL last season, averaging 159.9 yards per game, with everyone back for 2023.Having a dominant run game will take some of the pre sure off second-year quarterback , who will step in as Atlanta's starter after playing in only four games as a rookie and third-round pick out of . The Falcons also paid well to keep their offensive line intact, signing guard and tackle to long-term extensions.It's the third year in a row that the Falcons have used a top-10 pick on an offensive skill-position player, after taking tight end fourth in 2021 and receiver eighth last year. Robinson was prolific in college, totaling more than 4,200 yards and 41 touchdowns in just 31 games at Texas.Robinson's arrival isn't good news for second-year back , a fifth-round draft pick who set the Falcons' rookie rushing record with 1,035 yards last season. He's only 23, and they also have Romeo Okwara Jersey 24-year-old , which raises the question of whether veteran , already limited to a small share of the carries, might not be part of the team's future.The NFL doesn't value backs as a premium position most of the time, but this year's draft marked a shift from that. Four picks after the Falcons took Robinson, the used the No. 12 pick on 's . That's the first time two backs have gone in the top 12 since 2017, when Leonard Fournette and went in the top eight picks.In taking Robinson, the Falcons pa sed on other more glaring positional needs. They especially could use a premier pa s rusher as they work to improve on getting to the opposing quarterback. Over the past two seasons,Atlanta has 23 fewer sacks than any other NFL team AJ Parker Jersey , and while the Falcons have upgraded their defense significantly, their only addition at end is 36-year-old .Greg Auman is FOX Sports NFC South reporter, covering the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He is in his 10th season covering the Bucs and the NFL full-time, having spent time at the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at . NFL trending in this topic
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