The Atlanta Falcons find themselves in an interesting spot entering the season. Kirk Cousins remains on the roster despite all signs pointing toward Michael Penix Jr. being the future of this team and presumptive starting quarterback for the 2025 campaign.
With so much uncertainty still surrounding the offense, Pro Bowl running back Bijan Robinson had plenty to say about how the franchise needs to get over the hump. Atlanta hasn't made the playoffs since the 2017 season and Robinson is ready to help lead that change now as being "close" is no longer good enough for him.
“It’s going on my third year, and we were close to the playoffs for two years,” Robinson said, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t want to be close anymore. Like, I want it to be a no-brainer.”
“So, I want us to come together,” Robinson said. “There’s going to be new leaders in the (locker) room. There are some new leaders in the room because some leaders left. But I think it’s important that we all just have a common goal in mind.”
While it remains to be put into action by Robinson and the Falcons, the former Texas Longhorns standout is confident that this group is headed in the right direction under the guidance of Raheem Morris. That belief in Morris and his teammates is enough to make Robinson feel good that this will be the year that he can finally get a taste of playoff football.
“It’s a good feeling to know where we’re headed,” Robinson said, per Ledbetter. “For me, like, I’m tired in the offseason of telling people like, man, we’re almost there. We almost have it. I think for us, like, we’re starting to get past that point. We know that we’re tired of answering questions like that.”
The next step in building out that roster to bring the Falcons back to postseason contention will occur this week when Atlanta makes its selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. As of this writing, the Falcons own the No. 15 overall pick in the draft but, as we know, anything can happen this time of year.