NFL Draft Betting Preview: Where Will Bijan Robinson be Picked?

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Bryce Derouin

Last Updated: Apr 25^th, 2023

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NFL Draft Betting Preview: Where Will Bijan Robinson be Picked?

It’s been three years since a running back was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft when the Kansas City Chiefs took Clyde Edwards-Helaire at No. 32.

And you’d have to go back to the 2018 draft when a running back was taken in the Top 10 when the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley at No. 2.

Running backs simply haven’t been prioritized in drafts as of late with the position becoming devalued compared to the pass-oriented NFL that emphasizes a need for wide receivers, cornerbacks and pass-rushers in addition to the obvious quarterbacks.

But Texas running back Bijan Robinson is the first exception to recent draft classes. NFL betting sites have him with good odds to go high in the draft.

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Bijan Robinson is Projected as First Round Pick

Check out any mock draft; you’re likely to see Robinson taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus has him going No. 25 to the Cincinnati Bengals via a trade with the Giants. Sports Illustrated predicts the Detroit Lions will take him at No. 18, while NFL.com has Robinson going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at pick 19.

One reason teams are so high on Robinson is his combination of speed and power. He set the PFF single-season broken tackle record in 2022 with 104. During his final season at Texas, he ran for 1,575 yards (6.1 per attempt) and recorded over 4.1 yards after contact per carry and scored 18 touchdowns. Robinson ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and has received a scouting grade of 96 from ESPN and a 95.3 overall grade from PFF.

MORE: NFL Picks

Bijan Robinson Betting Odds

To get some perspective on how far ahead Robinson is considered ahead of the rest of the running back class, he is -10000 at DraftKings Sportsbook to be the first running back taken in the draft.

That means you’d have to bet $10,000 to win $100 back.

FanDuel Sportsbook currently has Robinson’s Over-Under draft prop at 12.5 with the over at +122 and the under at -162, meaning he’s favored to be taken in the first 12 picks of the draft.

Whoever takes Robinson will likely utilize him plenty early on, which makes him an intriguing pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. At DraftKings, he’s currently the favorite for the award at +450, ahead of Alabama QB Bryce Young (+500).