The Falcons didn’t just pay Bijan Robinson on Tuesday. They reset the running back market.
Atlanta and Robinson agreed to a three-year extension worth $75 million, a deal that pays him $25 million per season and instantly pushes him into a class all by himself at the position. The agreement also includes $51 million in guarantees and $37 million at signing, according to Adam Schefter.
Robinson is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
That kind of number makes more sense when you look at what he’s already become for the Falcons. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards in 2025 and has developed into much more than a traditional runner. He’s a weapon in every sense, and with Atlanta dealing with quarterback uncertainty, his value to the offense only grows.
He’s also still extremely young. Robinson is entering his age-24 season even though he’s already in his fourth year, and that age only adds to the scale of the investment.
The deal blows past the rest of the market. Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles had been the top earner by annual value at $20.6 million, but Robinson now sits well ahead of him at $25 million per year. His $75 million total also tops De’Von Achane’s $64 million deal with the Miami Dolphins, signed earlier in the offseason.
The guarantees are just as striking. Robinson’s $51 million is the most in the league for a running back outside of rookie Jeremiyah Love, who is on one of the most valuable rookie contracts in the league.
For non-Love running backs, nobody has a bigger contract or more guaranteed money than Robinson. And while the price tag is massive, that’s the reality for elite players in today’s NFL. The cap keeps climbing, the market keeps stretching, and the Falcons clearly decided Robinson was the one worth using to redraw the line.
That’s what makes this such a big moment for Atlanta. They didn’t just keep a star. They used a truly special player to set the standard at his position.
Now that Robinson has his deal, the spotlight shifts elsewhere. The Detroit Lions likely want to move their contract talks with Jahmyr Gibbs to the finish line.
In Other News...
Mike Macdonald Sends Early Warning After Seahawks Sloppy Opener
The first home game since winning Super Bowl LX did not go the way the Seahawks expected, as Seattle fell 17-7 to the Cowboys and left coach Mike Macdonald sounding far more concerned about the process than the result alone. Macdonald made clear after the game that the standard has to be higher, pointing to the need for sharper play on both sides of the ball and a cleaner overall operation.
For a team trying to settle back into the rhythm of a championship follow-up season, the issues he emphasized are the kind that can linger if they are not corrected quickly. Communication, alignment and execution all came up as problem areas, and Macdonalds early warning suggests Seattle knows there is work to do before a sloppy opener becomes something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Backup QB Problem Fans Can See
The Seahawks got an early preseason reminder that the depth chart behind the starter is not as settled as it should be. Seattles first look against Dallas was messy enough on its own, but the quarterback rotation did not help, with Jalen Milroe drawing the sharpest criticism for looking slow to process what he was seeing and not making enough effective decisions when the play broke down. Against a Cowboys defense that was able to keep the pressure on, the offense never found much rhythm.
There were bright spots elsewhere, with Tyrice Knight standing out on defense and giving Seattle something to build on from an otherwise uneven night. But the bigger concern is obvious to anyone watching the backup quarterback situation unfold, because the Seahawks need more than potential at a spot that can turn fragile in a hurry. The first preseason game did not answer those questions, and it may have made the depth issue feel even more urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Milroes Next Test Could Reshape Seattles Quarterback Plan
Jalen Milroes first extended look for the Seahawks gave a glimpse of why Seattle invested a third-round pick in him during the 2025 draft. In his second season, he got more action against the Cowboys, playing 30 snaps and completing five of eight passes while also running five times, a small but meaningful step for a quarterback still carving out his role in Mike Macdonalds offense.
Macdonald made clear after the game that Milroes development will be measured by more than the obvious burst he brings as a runner. The coach pointed to the need for Milroe to extend plays and keep growing as a passer, a reminder that Seattle is still sorting out what the long-term quarterback picture looks like and how much of it Milroe can shape with each opportunity. [Read more 🡒]