Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs to Falcons? An NFL Draft 'Explosion'

Looking at how explosive Alabama rusher Jahmyr Gibbs would compliment Tyler Allgeier in the Atlanta Falcons running back room and make life easier for a young quarterback.

NFL Draft week is officially upon us, and the Atlanta Falcons are a good draft away from becoming favorites to win the NFC South. 

The Falcons' offseason has been highlighted by signing safety Jessie Bates III and trading for cornerback Jeff Okudah, but Alabama running back prospect Jahmyr Gibbs stands out as a player that can make Atlanta's offense more dynamic next season. 

Running back Tyler Allgeier had an excellent rookie season in 2022. He rushed for 1,034 yards at 4.9 yards per carry. His rushing yards ranked No. 13 amongst all running backs in the league and No. 8 in the NFC. However, the 220-pound bruiser had a mere 16 receptions on the season. 

For comparison, veteran Swiss Army knife Cordarrelle Patterson had 52 receptions in the season before Allgeier became a Falcon. This means that the team could benefit by injecting a bit more youthful juice and receiving ability into the backfield.

Unlike Allgeier, Gibbs won't run people over, but good luck catching him. At 5-9, 199 pounds, Gibbs is lightning in a bottle, and his 4.36-second forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine reaffirmed his speed on film.

Jahmyr Gibbs’s long speed and quick twitch ability is ELITE. This man is going to be a PROBLEM at the next level 😤
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— Mac (@FFMailMann) April 14, 2023

Together, Allgeier and Gibbs could form one of the top running back tandems in the league, reminiscent of what the Los Angeles Chargers had back when Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler split the workload. Gordon could wear defenses down and Ekeler could complement him in the receiving game, something that Gibbs also excels in.

I don’t necessarily agree with the often Jahmyr Gibbs - Alvin Kamara comp.

HOWEVER

I am down for the Broncos and Sean Payton taking Gibbs for an Alvin Kamara role in Denver!

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— Matt FF Dynasty 🏈 (@MattFFDynasty) April 21, 2023

In his junior season at Alabama, Gibbs had 44 receptions in 12 games, which explains why he's compared himself to San Francisco 49ers rusher Christian McCaffrey but with Kansas City Chiefs legend Jamaal Charles' speed.

Entering next season, Atlanta will likely be starting sophomore Desmond Ridder or another quarterback with little pro experience. Still, the team can find success with an inexperienced quarterback by taking a page from the success of the 49ers in 2022.

Last year's injuries forced the 49ers to start the 2022 NFL Draft's "Mr. Irrelevant," Brock Purdy, but to the surprise of many, he led them to a surprising amount of success before sustaining an injury. 

Purdy benefitted from having an elite receiver in the backfield on top of the team's strong defense and versatile run game. The Falcons have already assembled a strong defense; they're just missing their version of McCaffrey. 

As we continue to approach Thursday's draft commencement, Atlanta will be a team to monitor in the Gibbs sweepstakes near the end of round one or early part of round two since the team is competing for the NFC and has shown an affinity for drafting offensive talent early in round one the past two years with Kyle Pitts and Drake London.

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