Falcons tell Giants no on Bijan Robinson trade call

The Giants spent deadline week trying hard to land a big piece, and one of their calls went to Atlanta about the best running back in football.

Jordan Raanan

@JordanRaanan

The Giants tried hard to make a deal. They even made a call to the Falcons on Bijan Robinson. All this and more on this week's @BreakingBigBlue x @GiantsNationPod. t.co/LK8pi5EfeG t.co/JMQS9NjD8R

Credit to the Giants for trying. Being told no costs nothing, and New York went into the deadline at the top of the NFC East needing backfield help. Per reports, they also looked into Jonathan Taylor while Cam Skattebo's injury left a hole in the run game. If you're leading your division and shopping for a running back, you call about the best one available and see what happens.

The problem is that Bijan Robinson was never available. Atlanta signed him to a 3-year, $66.75 million extension in August, which made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, with a deal that can reportedly reach $75 million through incentives. Teams don't hand out record money in August and then take calls on the guy in November. The Falcons' whole offense runs through Robinson as a runner and a receiver.

ProFootballTalk

@ProFootballTalk

Report: Giants called Falcons about a potential Bijan Robinson trade. t.co/hw0TTRLppW

Once the report went national, someone was going to ask Stefanski about it. He was asked Wednesday about the Giants checking in and whether there was any chance Robinson could have been moved. He didn't give a long answer about respecting the process or how every team takes calls. He said 1 word.

Daniel Flick

@ByDanielFlick

Kevin Stefanski, asked about the reports of the Giants checking on Bijan Robinson & whether there was any possibility he'd be moved. "No."

That's the right answer, and it's funnier because of where Atlanta is. The Falcons are 3-6, which is usually when a team starts hearing offers for whatever isn't bolted down. Robinson is bolted down. A losing record doesn't change that you just paid him record money and that he's the most talented player on the roster. If the season keeps going sideways, the Falcons will be rebuilding around Bijan, not using him to rebuild.

For the Giants, the deadline has passed and Robinson isn't coming, so they'll have to win the NFC East with the backfield they have. The call does show how aggressive this front office is willing to be. A team that phones about the highest-paid back in the league in the middle of a division race will go after a star again this offseason. They'll just have to pick one whose team will actually take the call.