The running back market has a new name at the top, and it belongs to Bijan Robinson.
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a historic three-year extension with Robinson worth up to $75 million, according to ESPN. The deal comes with $51 million in guaranteed money, which is the most ever for a running back outside of rookie contracts. It also pushes Robinson’s average annual value to $25 million, clearing Saquon Barkley’s $20.6 million mark.
Robinson had been holding in since the start of training camp while the sides worked through the contract, and now the deal gives him a clear runway to get back on the practice field ahead of the 2026 regular season. Atlanta is coming off an 8-9 season in 2025, and the new contract is another major move for a front office that has spent the offseason locking in core pieces.
That group, led by first-year general managers Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan, has already extended wide receiver Drake London on a four-year, $141.05 million deal, tight end Kyle Pitts on a three-year, $54 million deal and guard Matthew Bergeron on a four-year, $96 million deal.
Robinson’s rise to this point has been fast and loud. The Falcons took the Texas star with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and in his fourth NFL season he has already built a case as one of the league’s most explosive backs.
Last season, he set a franchise record with 2,298 yards from scrimmage, the most in the NFL. His 5,648 career scrimmage yards are the most by any player age 23 or younger in league history, and they rank fourth all-time for scrimmage yards through a player’s first three seasons.
The contract also gives Robinson the top spot on a list that now reads like the league’s premier backs. After him are Barkley at $20.4 million, Christian McCaffrey at $19 million, Devon Achane at $16 million, Derrick Henry at $15 million, Breece Hall at $14.5 million, Kenneth Walker III at $14.35 million and Jonathan Taylor at $14 million.
Robinson’s guarantee total also lands near the top of the running back market overall. The only bigger number in the source material belongs to Jeremiyah Love, whose 2026 rookie deal carries $53 million in guaranteed money. Robinson’s $51 million guarantee is next, ahead of Barkley’s $36 million extension, Ashton Jeanty’s $35.9 million rookie deal and Barkley’s $31.2 million rookie contract.
And this one may not sit at the top for long.
Jahmyr Gibbs is also holding in at Lions training camp while he seeks what could be another market-moving extension, and Robinson’s deal now gives Detroit a clean reference point. Asked Tuesday morning what the contract might mean for Gibbs, Dan Campbell said, "It's certainly not going to hurt," Campbell told reporters Tuesday morning while reacting to the Robinson extension and what it means for Gibbs, via ESPN.
"But we'll see. Look, I'm anxious to get Gibbs back out there.
Every day that goes by, you know, that's another day that you feel like you miss with him and getting out there with the guys, and him doing his part. But it'll get done when it gets done."
Gibbs has already put together a remarkable start to his career. Even while sharing touches with David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans this offseason, he has scored 49 career touchdowns, the most by any player through his first three NFL seasons. Over the last two seasons, Gibbs ranks third in the NFL with 3,768 scrimmage yards and first with 38 scrimmage touchdowns.
So Robinson has the crown now. The only real question is how long he gets to keep it.
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