Falcons GM Fontenot Praises Bijan Robinson's 'Rare Maturity' and 'Intensity'

Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot revealed the intangible aspects of his decision to draft running back Bijan Robinson.

There’s a reason teams do extensive interviews with many of the prospects they consider drafting. With a professional career comes pressure, adversity, and a transition that knocks many talented prospects down a few pegs. Gauging one’s character is thus an important aspect of investing in a prospect.

The Atlanta Falcons selected running back Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in April’s draft. He is viewed by many as a generational running back prospect and almost unanimously topped running back rankings on social media. General manager Terry Fontenot wasn’t just interested in his athleticism or fundamentals, but the makeup of his character, too.

On Wednesday, Fontenot backed up that assessment.

“I would say he has a rare maturity about himself,” Fontenot said.

Robinson was one of the most well-known collegiate backs in recent memory. He was the top running back recruit in his class, and the first-round hype has followed him throughout his Texas career.

“You’ve seen someone who has handled everything in stride,” he continued. “We fully expect him to handle things (in Atlanta) the same way.”

Fontenot didn’t stop there. He would also comment on Robinson’s character within the context of the game itself.

“He has an intensity about him, too,” he said. “Everybody sees the nice smile, but he can lock in and go to that dark place. He can lock in to do whatever he has to do to get the job done … we know it’s going to carry over to the games.”

Robinson has quickly become a fan favorite, despite critics blasting the Falcons for taking a running back so early. That aforementioned smile might earn him endorsement deals and a longer leash with fans, but his talent and intensity will be vital to keeping Atlanta’s offense afloat in a NFC South that is open for the taking.

Robinson and the Falcons will take the field against the rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday to kick off the 2023 season.