As the 2023 NFL Draft rolls around again, teams around the league are getting ready to start falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book; taking a running back with a valuable pick.

No matter how often this mistake is made, very few teams in the league can learn from their own mistakes or the mistakes of others. The Lions need to note this and avoid a terrible decision with one of their top picks this year.

One name that has recently been tied to the Lions (amongst others) that is quickly gaining traction is Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson is coming off a remarkable college career, is an athletic freak, and ticks all the boxes of a modern NFL running back. The Lions still need to stay away.

The running back position has taken a nose dive in the modern NFL. If injuries happening at a ridiculous rate weren't enough on their own to keep potential buyers away, the track record of teams crushing their futures by paying running backs is a horror story (see the Dallas Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott).

As for the Lions themselves, this move would make more sense if Detroit wasn't good on the ground in 2022, but the numbers tell a different story.

The Lions finished 11th in the league in total rushing yards with 2,179, 15th in the league in yards per carry with 4.5, and third in the NFL with 23 rushing touchdowns.

Does this really seem like a team that needs to invest massive capital in an aspect of the game that has already fallen off in relevance? 

The past few years have shown that there are much easier, sustainable ways to build a run game if that is still an area that the Lions want to address.

A quality quarterback that can effectively establish the pass or run the ball on their own has a quality track record of keeping efficiency in the run game. Late-round backs and free agents can be just as good as early-round picks, bringing a substantially better return on investment.

Even if Detroit wants to move away from D'Andre Swift and doesn't keep Jamaal Williams, there are plenty of other options that are about to become available as free agents, and history tells us that there will be a few studs in the middle rounds of the draft as well.

Bijan Robinson is a great player and could become an NFL legend, but a great running back isn't why this Lions team fell short of the playoffs this past year. A great running back isn't the missing piece for this team going forward and the desire to make a Super Bowl appearance.

The NFC is as wide-open as it has ever been. Robinson could help the Lions right now and bring a pop to this offense, but taking a quarterback like Anthony Richardson or stocking up on defensive talent in the upcoming draft could be just what the Lions need to emerge as one of the best teams in the conference for the next decade. 

As hard as it may be to hear, the Lions need to stay away from Bijan Robinson unless his draft value starts to slip to a later round.

Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports