Bijan Robinson has pushed the running back market into a new lane.
The Atlanta Falcons and Robinson agreed to a three-year extension early Tuesday, and the numbers are massive: $75 million total, $25 million per season, $51 million in guarantees and $37 million at signing, according to Adam Schefter. That makes Robinson the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
ESPN sources: Two-time Pro-Bowl selection Bijan Robinson and the Falcons reached agreement on a three-year extension worth up to $75 million that now will make him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Robinson will receive a record $51 million guaranteed, including $37… pic.twitter.com/bLzbDVEgfh
- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2026
The deal blows past the top of the position’s pay scale. Robinson’s $25 million annual average sits well ahead of Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles, who had been the leader at $20.6 million per year. The total value also tops De'Von Achane’s $64 million deal with the Miami Dolphins earlier in the offseason.
The guarantees are just as eye-opening. Robinson’s $51 million is the highest in the league among running backs outside of rookie Jeremiyah Love, whose rookie deal ranks among the most valuable at the position. For non-Love backs, Robinson now owns the biggest contract and the richest guarantees.
The Falcons weren’t paying for a normal running back, either. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards in 2025 and has become a true weapon for Atlanta, not just a runner.
With quarterback uncertainty hanging over the offense, his importance only grows. He’s also entering his age-24 season, which makes the size of this extension even more striking.
It’s the kind of deal that only comes when a team has a rare player worth building around. And with Robinson now setting the bar, the Detroit Lions likely want to get Jahmyr Gibbs’ negotiations across the finish line.
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Branchs adjustment has been helped by his time at the University of Georgia, where he already got a taste of what it means to play in this region and handle the expectations that come with it. Teammates, including Kyle Pitts, have been quick to notice, and the early read on Branch is that he brings a versatile, physical presence that could earn him a real role if this camp momentum keeps building. [Read more 🡒]