Earlier this week, Atlanta locked in Bijan Robinson with a 3-year extension value as much as $75 million.
The deal follows Robinson’s standout manufacturing, together with main the NFL in scrimmage yards in the course of the 2025 season. After signing Drake London and Kyle Pitts to long-term extensions earlier this offseason, Robinson’s record-setting deal cements the three former first-round picks as the muse of the Falcons offense.
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Atlanta is aware of Robinson can lead the franchise and has determined to complete what it began constructing three years in the past.
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Robinson, London, and Pitts Are the Basis
Each profitable NFL staff ultimately reaches the identical challenges. Drafting stars and retaining them collectively can show troublesome, but the Falcons have now completed each.
Bijan Robinson has established himself as one of many NFL’s best younger working backs by way of three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. In 51 video games, he has rushed 805 instances for 3,910 yards at a 4.9-yard common with 25 speeding touchdowns. He additionally provides 198 receptions for 1,738 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns, totaling 5,648 yards from scrimmage and 34 touchdowns.
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Throughout his profession, Robinson has proven effectivity, dual-threat versatility and sturdiness. He posted back-to-back 1,400-yard speeding seasons and emerged as a whole menace within the aerial recreation. That is greater than sufficient justification for the Falcons to set information for his extension.
Robinson’s affect can’t be mentioned with out mentioning Pitts and London. London has developed into one of many league’s finest possession receivers. Pitts, after years of inconsistent quarterback play and accidents, stays one of many NFL’s most bodily gifted tight ends and a matchup nightmare when wholesome.
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Individually, every participant is value constructing round:
Drake London (Broad Receiver)
London is the clear WR1 and first downfield goal.
In June 2026, the Falcons signed him to a four-year, $141 million extension. By 2025, he had recorded 309 receptions for 3,961 yards and 22 touchdowns. Regardless of inconsistent quarterback play and a few missed time in 2025 (68 catches, 919 yards, 7 TDs in 12 video games), he has persistently ranked among the many best receivers within the NFL.
Kyle Pitts (Tight Finish)
Pitts, the highest-drafted tight finish in NFL historical past, signed a three-year extension value about $54 million.
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After an inconsistent begin to his profession, he delivered a powerful 2025 season with 88 receptions, 928 yards, and a career-high 5 touchdowns, rating close to the highest of the place in manufacturing. At 6-foot-6 with elite athleticism, he creates matchup issues as each a standard tight finish or when cut up out huge.
Significance of the Trio
Collectively they offer the Falcons some of the proficient younger skill-position teams within the league. ESPN ranked them among the many high handful of playmaking trios after their collective 2025 manufacturing.
The brand new entrance workplace led by Matt Ryan, basic supervisor Ian Cunningham, and coach Kevin Stefanski has prioritized locking all three up, committing lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} to maintain the core intact.
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The Quarterback Downside Threatens Every thing
There is a motive some followers stay skeptical, as ability positions alone do not win championships. The Falcons can lock up Robinson, London and Pitts for the subsequent 5 seasons, but when the quarterback state of affairs does not enhance, none of these gamers can attain their full potential.
The Falcons tried to repair the place in 2024. Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins to an enormous four-year, roughly $180 million contract shortly after he recovered from a torn Achilles. Weeks later, the Falcons shocked many by deciding on Michael Penix Jr. eighth total within the draft.
Cousins began a lot of the 12 months however by no means absolutely regained his pre-injury kind. He was ultimately benched late within the season in favor of Penix, who confirmed some moments in restricted play.
Penix entered 2025 because the starter. He had combined outcomes, finishing beneath 60 % of his passes in his profession begins, and rating poorly in bad-throw proportion. His season ended with a torn ACL (his third main damage when together with school), after which Cousins returned. The staff completed 8-9, and the disappointing outcomes led to the firings of head coach Raheem Morris and basic supervisor Terry Fontenot.
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Heading into 2026 beneath a brand new employees, the Falcons launched Cousins and signed Tua Tagovailoa to a short-term deal. Penix continues recovering from his newest ACL tear and has confronted delays in returning to full 11-on-11 work, whereas Tagovailoa has handled again tightness.
This has created competitors on the backside of the depth chart, resulting in strikes akin to signing Cooper Rush. Analysts have regularly ranked the Falcons’ quarterback room among the many league’s worst.
The Falcons Have Their Core — Now They Want a Quarterback
Bijan Robinson’s extension stands out as the closing step within the long-term franchise plan. The Falcons have recognized the three gamers they consider will outline the subsequent period of their offense and made certain all three stay in Atlanta.
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The quarterback should elevate one of many league’s most proficient offensive trios into certainly one of its most harmful offenses. For the primary time in years, the Falcons know precisely who they wish to construct round, and now they should show they constructed round the appropriate gamers.
Success shall be thought-about provided that the Falcons win the division and make a decent playoff run. The offensive trio is once-in-a-generation expertise, and the Falcons want to appreciate their potential.
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