NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals land Bijan Robinson with their first 2023 NFL draft pick

Thanks to their abysmal 4-10 record, the Arizona Cardinals are currently in line to have the No. 5 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Who could they take with that pick?

One recent NFL mock draft really caught our attention with Arizona's first selection in the 2023 NFL draft on April 27.

It has the Cardinals taking former Texas running back Bijan Robinson, who recently declared for the draft after rushing for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns on 258 attempts during his third season in Austin.

More:NFL mock draft: Texas running back Bijan Robinson could tempt teams in 2023 NFL draft

Robinson averaged 6.1 yards per carry last season and also had 19 catches for 314 yards and two touchdowns.

Robinson played high school football at Salpointe Catholic in Tucson.

Could the Tucson native return to Arizona via the 2023 NFL draft?

WalterFootball.com, a site that analyzes the NFL, had Robinson projected to land with the Cardinals with their first pick of the draft.

It wrote of the Arizona-Robinson connection: "James Conner is as pedestrian as they come as far as starting running backs are concerned. Kyler Murray could really benefit from a big upgrade in the backfield. Bijan Robinson is going to be another running back chosen early in the draft. All of his attributes are at sky-high levels."

More:Tucson native Bijan Robinson wins Doak Walker Award

Running backs don't normally go that high in NFL drafts, but Robinson could be a generational talent.

Many recent NFL mock drafts have him projected to go late in the first round, like at No. 30 to the Buffalo Bills or at No. 25 to the Baltimore Ravens.

Some are starting to put him up higher, however, like a CBS Sports projection that has Robinson going to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 10.

Interestingly, ESPN's Todd McShay had Robinson going to the Philadelphia Eagles last week, with the No. 5 pick in the draft, the pick the Cardinals currently hold.

He wrote: "I know the 'it’s too early for a running back' arguments are coming, and I agree 99% of the time. But why spend heavily on re-signing Sanders or bringing in another back in free agency when Robinson — who is an upgrade — is available here on a rookie deal? Robinson cruised to 1,580 yards and 18 TDs on the ground this season while breaking 91 tackles."

Arizona has a lot of needs in the upcoming draft, and a lot of holes to fill, especially on defense, so running back might not be the highest priority for the team with its first-round pick.

But Robinson, and his elite talent, might be hard to pass on if you are the Cardinals.

More:Saturday special: 3 former Arizona HS stars have career college football games on same day

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals get Bijan Robinson in 2023 NFL draft