Former front office member believes Bijan Robinson is in best position to succeed

The Falcons ruffled some feathers with their selection of Bijan Robinson in the first round of this year’s draft, leading to some wild takes. Some believe Atlanta continues to prove their incompetence by taking a running back in the top 10 when they already had a 1,000 yard rookie rusher on the roster. Others see the Falcons vision and believe Robinson will be a star under Arthur Smith.

Most recently, Scott Pioli, a former assistant general manager in Atlanta, said on NFL Network that Bijan Robinson is in the best position of any rookie to succeed now and in the future.

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Some might not see the vision of what the Falcons are attempting to build, but they are failing to look any deeper than the surface.

What Atlanta has done is put Desmond Ridder in an ideal position to succeed. The offensive line returned four starters, and they added another potential starter in the second round of the draft. That continuity is important, and this could be one of the better offensive lines in the league, which is a necessity in an Arthur Smith led offense.

With a solid offensive line and a tremendous play-caller, Robinson should have a field day running the ball, but this selection is about more than that. The Falcons are aiming to play position-less football — a phrase that is often thrown around but rarely put into motion. Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, and Drake London are versatile chess pieces. They will line up all over the field, creating mismatches that will be easily recognizable for a young quarterback in Desmond Ridder.

The Cincinnati product will rarely be asked to make plays outside of his comfort zone. The Falcons want to run the ball and control the clock, and when Ridder is asked to make plays with his arm, Smith’s offense should make his decisions thoughtless. On most passing plays, he’ll likely know where he’s going before the ball is even snapped.

It’s the perfect opportunity for a young quarterback to thrive in, and if Ridder can’t get the job done, somebody else will be taking snaps under center next year. With Robinson in the fold and Arthur Smith calling the shots, this offense has everything a quarterback needs to be successful.

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Photographer: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire