ESPN's Mel Kiper makes case for Dallas Cowboys to take Texas RB Bijan Robinson in Round 1

Mel Kiper thinks Bijan Robinson won’t have to travel too far inside the State of Texas come April.

In his first 2023 NFL Mock Draft, the ESPN guru projected the Texas Longhorns running back to be selected No. 26 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

“You think about the Cowboys with [Tony] Pollard’s injury, and the UFA. Then you’ve got Zeke. To me, they’ve done it in the past,” started Kiper. “Emmitt Smith’s got three Super Bowl rings. Felix Jones was a one. Zeke was an early one. Now you’re at 26. This is the eighth best player on my board. Remember, I don’t rate players and grade players on philosophy. I wouldn’t take a running back in the first. But in a mock draft you think, ‘Okay, what could happen?’ Dallas, Buffalo, teams like that in the late first would love to have Bijan Robinson. That offensive line can blow you off the ball in Dallas. Buffalo needs to help out Josh Allen with an all-around running back like Bijan. But I think Dallas would be the perfect fit.

“We’ve seen running backs fall in the draft, and that could happen again with Bijan Robinson.”

Even with the possibility of bringing back the aforementioned duo of Pollard and Elliot, Kiper is thinking Robinson could be the running back of the future in Dallas. There would have to be some tough decisions, but it’s certainly plausible.

Perhaps Bijan Robinson could be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Cowboys offense, especially after two disappointing playoff exits over the last two seasons.

Bijan Robinson signs with Klutch Sports ahead of NFL Draft

Meanwhile, Texas running back Bijan Robinson partnered with Klutch Sports as his representation ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Robinson recently declared for the draft and opted out of Texas’ Alamo Bowl game against Washington.

“Welcome to the (Klutch Sport) fam Bijan Robinson ! #RB1 #NFLDraft,” Nicole Lynn wrote on Twitter.

Robinson finished his Texas career with 539 carries, 3,410 yards, 33 touchdowns, 6.3 yards per carry, 60 catches, 805 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Robinson was a five-star prospect out of Tucson (Ari.) Salpointe Catholic, according to the On3 Consensus. He was the No. 2 overall prospect in the state, the No. 2 running back prospect in the class and the No. 16 overall prospect.

Running back is not a popular choice for NFL teams in the first round. However, with how athletic and versatile Robinson is, he has a great chance of being one of the first 32 players selected on a Thursday night in April.

If Robinson does so, he will be the first first-round pick to come out of Texas since Malcolm Brown in 2015. Going back even further Vince Young was the last offensive first-rounder to wear burnt orange, dating back to the 2006 NFL Draft.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.