FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Of all the roles that Bijan Robinson so capably fills for the Atlanta Falcons – marquee attraction, versatile offensive weapon, community-service beacon – another slot was evident this week during a post-practice media session.
World Cup Insider.
Robinson may be the team’s foremost soccer buff. First drawn to the sport by playing video games, he’s become such a big fan that he’s traveled to Europe to attend matches and mingled with some of soccer’s biggest stars.
He’s excited about checking out at least a couple of the FIFA World Cup games on tap for Mercedes-Benz Stadium, beginning next week, and sounds credible enough.
Who’s going to win the World Cup?
“France,” Robinson said June 8, backing one of the favorites. “I think it will be France and Spain.”
How far will the U.S. team advance?
“I want to say Round of 16, but we’ll see,” he replied. “They’ve got to prove it first.”
Bijan Robinson contract
With Robinson apparently in a mood for forecasting, it was natural to switch gears and project what the star running back sees for himself in terms of a big new contract. I mean, the NFL Monopoly Money has been flowing lately. On Monday, the Falcons cemented Drake London’s future with a four-year, $141 million extension, with $99.8 million guaranteed, that puts him near the top of the wide receiver market.
Next in line?
Robinson was effusive in his praise of London’s new deal but wouldn’t touch the topic of whether he’s next with a ten-foot pole.
“We’ll see,” he said. “I’m not that guy to talk about it. I’ll let them handle all that stuff. We’ll see.”
No doubt, Robinson has certainly earned a big raise.
Patrick Mahomes, deservedly, is the NFL’s highest-paid player again after signing a record-setting, two-year extension this week with the Kansas City Chiefs that averages more than $63 million and bumps the total value of his pact beyond $504 million.
Robinson, meanwhile, is the NFL’s most underpaid superstar.
He led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage last season and posted career-highs for rushing yards (1,478), catches (79) and receiving yards (820). His 97 first downs were third in the league. In three NFL seasons, he’s never missed a game.
And, well, with Robinson’s stop-on-a-dime, breath-taking moves and threat to take virtually any play the distance, the Falcons haven’t had a player so fun to watch since Michael Vick was in his heyday.
As it stands now, Robinson, 24, is due a base salary of $1.145 million for 2026, with a roster bonus of $2.599 million. That’s a grand total of $3.74 million in the fourth year of a rookie contract which he has clearly outplayed.
This is quite the bargain for Arthur Blank’s team, which should be huddled up with Robinson’s high-powered agent, Nicole Lynn, advancing a new deal. As the Falcons try to snap a string of eight consecutive losing seasons, it would send a terrible message to have the team’s best player in contract limbo.
Matt Ryan praises Bijan Robinson
“We’ll figure it out,” Matt Ryan, the team’s new president of football, told USA TODAY Sports this week.
Ryan, the legendary former Falcons quarterback who was once the NFL’s highest-paid player, undoubtedly brings keen insight into such matters as he navigates his new role. After Ryan signed one of his top-market deals during the prime of his career, Blank sent his agent, Tom Condon, a dollar bill with the inscription: “My last dollar.”
“I don’t think I took Arthur’s last dollar,” Ryan reminisced. “I don’t think Drake did, either. We’ll figure that out.”
While Ryan acknowledged that a new pact for Robinson is a priority, he’s also on the other side now of an NFL system that allows teams tremendous leverage – including franchise tags and fifth-year options – in negotiations.
“Bijan, he’s a really special player,” Ryan said. “There’s no timetable for kind of hammering that out, but he’s a guy that we certainly want here to be a part of the organization for a long time.”
The Falcons, of course, exercised the fifth-year option that teams can use (and rescind, too) on first-round picks, which would guarantee him $11.323 million in 2027 – if a new deal isn’t done before then.
In the meantime, Robinson, who logged 366 touches last season, heads into his fourth NFL season positioned to assume the risk that comes with playing the position – running back – that has the shortest career span of any in the not-for-long NFL.
Sure, Robinson has tree trunks for legs. But he’s a running back, which can be a lot like the Ferrari you just drove off the lot when it comes to depreciation. The position is so valuable when teams are pushing on the road to the Super Bowl each year, yet so devalued at the bargaining table.
NFL running back salaries
Saquon Barkley is the highest-paid running back at $20.6 million per year, followed by Christian McCaffrey ($19 million). No other running back tops $16 million per year.
In the NFL realm, it seems a bit out of whack when considering top-market values for other positions. The highest-paid edge rushers, Will Anderson and Micah Parsons, average $50 million and $46.5 million, while the highest-paid center averages $29 million and market-pacing receivers top $40 million (London’s new contract averages $35.263 million).
Hey, running backs catch the ball, too. Yet the best ones still rank far below their counterparts at “premium” positions.
And Robinson’s case while still on his rookie contract is so glaring.
We’ll see how this plays out for Robinson, picking up a new system under new coach Kevin Stefanski and coordinator Tommy Rees. Typically, Robinson is upbeat about the scheme, and surely his new coaches will be like the old ones in realizing how well their centerpiece can make their X’s and O’s dance off the pages of the playbook.
“I don’t want to share too much, but there’s a lot of fun stuff that Tommy has put in, that we’re continuing to evolve,” Robinson said. “I just can’t wait to execute it when camp comes around.”
How long Robinson waits in striking a new contract – and at what cost -- will be an intriguing subplot as the Falcons roll with yet another regime change.
“I always feel like players can handle more than a lot of people think,” Ryan said. “I think removing some of that gray – it’s not negotiating with players or anything like that, but it’s just saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to get started on this. We know the value you provide. Trust us, and trust your agents and you know, we’ll find a way to get it done.’ ”
Which might represent some kind of Golden Boot.
Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Falcons should reward underpaid star Bijan Robinson with new contract
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