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08/04 13:34 CDT Falcons' Bijan Robinson agrees to a 3-year extension that makes
him the NFL's top-paid running back
Falcons' Bijan Robinson agrees to a 3-year extension that makes him the NFL's
top-paid running back
By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) --- The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a three-year
contract extension with Bijan Robinson through the 2030 season that makes the
fourth-year player the NFL's highest-paid running back.
Robinson reposted the NFL's Instagram post detailing the extension on Tuesday
morning, writing "God this is for you! Blessings. Love this team and this city!"
The extension is worth up to $75 million with incentives, with $51 million
guaranteed. The base value of $66.75 gives Robinson a $22.25 million average
per year that makes him the league's top-paid running back. Philadelphia
running back Saquon Barkley's average is $20.6 million.
"Obviously very excited for him, excited for us," Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski
said Tuesday.
NFL Network and ESPN first reported the extension. Robinson's agent, Nicole
Lynn of Klutch Sports, posted on X on Tuesday morning "Anyone have a brinks
truck?" while the Falcons posted a photo of a smiling Robinson.
The deal with Robinson continued the Falcons' trend of locking up foundation
players on their offense.
On Saturday, the Falcons announced signing left guard Matthew Bergeron to a
four-year contract extension. The team gave new contracts to wide receiver
Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts in the offseason.
"It's all guys that we believe in, all guys that fit who we are," Stefanski
said.
The new deal comes after Robinson spent the first week of training camp,
including Monday's first day in pads, as a spectator. He attended the practices
but did not participate in an apparent contract "hold-in" as he seeks a new
deal.
"I just knew throughout this whole process that it would be a process and I
felt good about where we were," Stefanski said. "I think everybody understands
how we feel about Bijan the person and Bijan the player."
Robinson joined practice on Tuesday as Stefanski and the Falcons no longer have
to worry about their star running back's status for the season.
"It means obviously as a coach, you want to get your guys ready for the
football season and it allows us to get Bijan ready," Stefanski said. "And he's
eager, beyond eager, to get out here. So on that note, we'll slowly get him
back in there. ... We'll have a plan here for the next week to ramp him up."
A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked Robinson the league's top
running back in a preseason poll.
Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 TDs last
season.
Robinson has been the focus of Atlanta's productive ground game since he was
the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He flourished as a dual-threat
back last season, finishing fourth in the league with 1,478 rushing yards while
adding 820 receiving yards.
Steven Jackson in 2006 is the only other player ever with at least 1,400
rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in the same season.
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AP Sports Writers Rob Maaddi and Maura Carey contributed to this report.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
