Is Cowboys’ Bijan Robinson pursuit over? NFL insider reveals Dallas’ thinking after Tony Pollard franchise tag
Bijan Robinson is one of the highest rated overall prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. He has been receiving a ton of hype around the NFL and has clearly emerged as the top player in his position.
The Texas Longhorns running back put together an excellent college football career and impressive performances at the 2023 NFL combine.
Many teams are reportedly interested in targeting Robinson in the upcoming draft, including the Dallas Cowboys. Several rumors have circled suggesting the franchise could be looking to select him as their first-round draft pick.
The idea of the Cowboys pursuing Bijan Robinson is a result of their running back situation entering the 2023 NFL offseason. Tony Pollard is pending free agency, while Ezekiel Elliot is in danger of being released unless he restructures his current contract. The situation changed recently as the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pollard.
Cowboys franchise tag RB Tony Pollard. (via @RapSheet) https://t.co/hHPWjWtcEt
NFL insider Bob Sturm wrote an article for The Athletic, outlining what he believes Tony Pollard's tag means for the Cowboys' pursuit of Bijan Robinson.
"With the tag on Tony Pollard, we know rhetoric for Bijan Robinson or even top-100 RB idea will subside. Should it? A franchise tag is actually an off ramp that usually is just a one-year delay on a player’s exit. Very few are converted into extensions, often because the team has no real intention in doing an extension.
"They do the tag because they don’t have any desire to do the one-year value times five years. They will get the immediate value and toss him off with one-year notice so they can draft his replacements and give them a year to acclimate.
"I still think that while Robinson would probably be a bit rich, we know the team values RB at a very high level and therefore there is every reason to still look at RB on Day 2 or early Day 3 to begin the transition."
While Sturm doesn't necessarily believe the Cowboys will still target Bijan Robinson after tagging Tony Pollard, it's certainly still a possibility. Jerry Jones' draft history and contractual priorities suggest he could still very well be on his radar.
Bijan Robinson would be a typical Jerry Jones pick in the 2023 NFL draft
Jerry Jones has a clear history of prioritizing running backs. He is no stranger to selecting with them with first-round draft picks, including Emmitt Smith, Felix Jones, and Ezekiel Elliot.
He has also shown that he's willing to give major contracts to running backs, with Smith and Elliot each receiving record-breaking deals.
In addition to priotizing running backs, Jones has also demonstrated that he believes in the "best available" strategy on draft day. He doesn't necessarily draft players to fill obvious needs, but instead targets those that can make the biggest impact immediately.
CeeDee Lamb and Dez Bryant are two perfect examples of luxury picks, rather than filling a void on the roster.
Jones' history of making splash picks, combined with his love for elite running backs, makes Bijan Robinson a typical target. Robinson fits how Jones likes to build the Cowboys' roster.
Elliott and Pollard's status may not matter if Bijan Robinson is available when the Cowboys are on the clock during the 2023 NFL draft.