After another season that ended short of the playoffs - their eighth straight year watching from home in January - the Atlanta Falcons won’t be flooding the 2026 Pro Bowl Games with talent. But they’re sending two players who absolutely earned the trip: running back Bijan Robinson and offensive guard Chris Lindstrom.
Let’s start with Bijan. In just his third year, the 23-year-old didn’t just take a step forward - he exploded.
Robinson racked up a franchise-record 2,298 scrimmage yards, becoming the engine of Atlanta’s offense and one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers. Whether it was pounding the rock between the tackles or slicing through defenses as a receiver, Bijan was the Falcons' heartbeat.
And he didn’t do it alone. Chris Lindstrom, once again, was a force in the trenches.
As Atlanta’s top run blocker and the steady presence on an offensive line that had its ups and downs, Lindstrom helped pave the way for Robinson’s monster year. Both earned their Pro Bowl nods the hard way - through consistent, high-level play.
But while the Pro Bowl is mostly a celebration of individual excellence, there’s another angle to watch here - especially when it comes to Robinson. As the Falcons’ lone skill-position Pro Bowler, Bijan’s presence in San Francisco isn’t just about recognition. It’s also an opportunity.
Robinson is one of the most respected young offensive players in the league. He’s got star power, charisma, and now, a bit of recruiting potential.
With Falcons GM Ian Cunningham looking to upgrade the offense - particularly the passing game - Bijan could use this week as a chance to do a little behind-the-scenes work. Call it Pro Bowl networking with a purpose.
And there’s one name that stands out as a potential target: George Pickens.
Pickens is fresh off a breakout year with the Cowboys, where he finally delivered on the tantalizing upside he flashed during his time in Pittsburgh. After three seasons of inconsistent quarterback play with the Steelers, Pickens was traded to Dallas last offseason.
The result? Career highs across the board - 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns - and a Pro Bowl nod of his own.
This is the version of Pickens scouts dreamed about coming out of Georgia. The physical, downfield threat with highlight-reel hands and the swagger to match. In Dallas, he was the perfect complement to CeeDee Lamb, and under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, he became a key piece in a passing attack that jumped from 11th in the league in 2024 to second in 2025.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the story was the opposite. The Falcons' passing offense fell off a cliff, sliding from fifth in 2024 to 19th in 2025.
Injuries didn’t help - Drake London, their top receiver, missed significant time - but the lack of a consistent No. 2 option exposed the offense. With rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. showing flashes but still needing support, adding a proven weapon on the outside feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
That’s where Pickens comes in.
Yes, he’ll be expensive. With a massive contract looming - likely north of $30 million per year - and multiple teams expected to line up for his services, the Falcons would have to be aggressive.
But the fit makes sense. Pickens, a Georgia native, knows the area.
He’d step in as a physical, explosive partner to London, giving Penix two legit targets and opening up the field for Robinson to do even more damage.
Atlanta’s coaching staff is already taking shape under Kevin Stefanski, who brought in Tommy Rees to run the offense and added rising offensive mind Tanner Engstrand. That’s a group built to develop a young quarterback and maximize offensive talent. Now, they just need the weapons.
So while the Pro Bowl is technically an exhibition, for Robinson and the Falcons, it could be something more. A chance to plant a seed.
A conversation. A connection.
Maybe even the beginning of a full-court press for one of the league’s most intriguing free agents.
If Bijan can help bring George Pickens back to Georgia - this time in Falcons red and black - it might be the most important assist of his career.