RUNNING BACK
TOP 5 QB VIDEO
1
Bryce Young
2
CJ Stroud
3
Hendon Hooker
4
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
5
Jaren Hall
1
Bijan Robinson
RB / TEXAS / 6'0 / 220
Robinson is a blue-chip prospect with a rare blend of power, instincts, and playmaking ability. He possesses impressive vision at the line of scrimmage, is effectively decisive, and goes out of his way to initiate contact. Due to both his power and elusiveness, Robinson is tough to tackle at any level of the field. He is well-developed as a blocker and is willing to do the dirty work. Robinson is the type of guy who can wear a defence down the entire game and add to the cause by creating consistent chunk plays. Teams who are committed to winning through the run should consider drafting Robinson early.
Grade: Round 1
Rhamondre Stevenson
2
Jahmyr Gibbs
RB / ALABAMA / 5'11 / 200
Gibbs is a highly electric runner who can be used in many ways. His combination of explosiveness and versatility makes him a matchup nightmare. Gibbs utilizes patience and burst to create huge opportunities. He is a fluid and athletic runner who acts as another wide receiver on the field. Gibbs's route tree is very advanced for a college running back, and he adds an extra element for defences to consider. Currently, Gibbs is nothing special as a power back and may need to add some size to be a bell cow. Still, his unique ability will allow him to be a coveted weapon at the next level.
Grade: Round 1
Alvin Kamara
3
Zach Charbonnet
RB / UCLA / 6'1 / 220
Charbonnet is a very powerful runner with a thick and sturdy frame. He is a contact runner who possesses impressive vision and balance. When operating in open space, Charbonnet is a downhill threat who can knock over a defender. He is faster than he is quick and loses speed when changing direction. Big-play ability is not Charbonnet's calling card, which limits his upside, but he is a well-rounded back who can produce at the next level. A team who wants to win on the ground will benefit from this prospect.
Grade: Round 2
Ezekiel Elliott
4
Devon Achane
RB / TEXAS A&M / 5'9 / 185
Achane is a video game running back. He possesses game-breaking speed and is a nightmare with any open space in sight. Generally, Achane has quality vision but occasionally tries to bounce outside too often. He is a highly versatile player who can be used in various ways. Size is obviously an apparent concern, but Achane is more powerful than his frame would suggest. While his size may limit his upside as a long-term player, the concern is offset by his rare skillset.
Grade: Round 3
Nyheim Hines
5
Roschon Johnson
RB / TEXAS / 6'2 / 223
Johnson is a thick back with a unique skill set for his size. His traits of vision, patience, and balance, coupled with his physicality and pass-catching skills, will make Johnson a candidate to become a workhorse in the NFL. Johnson is a highly well-rounded player who demonstrated his ability in pass protection. He possesses impressive burst for his size and can produce both consistent runs and home run plays. Living in the shadow of Bijan Robinson, Johnson could become a massive steal on draft day.
Grade: Round 3
Matt Forte
6
Zach Evans
RB / OLE MISS / 6'0 / 215
Evans is a no-nonsense runner who decisively hits the interior with great effectiveness. He is a simple and practical runner who always falls forward and gains extra yardage. Evans is a consistent player who can move a pile and generate tough yards. Although he may not be as exciting as Robinson or Gibbs, he is extremely fast for someone with a powerful run style. Additionally, you know exactly what you're getting out of Evans. He should be able to generate a long and successful career at the next level.
Grade: Round 3
Damien Harris
7
Chris Rodriguez
RB / KENTUCKY / 5'11 / 224
Rodriguez is a powerful back with an NFL frame. For his play style, Rodriguez possesses impressive footwork, patience, and vision. He is a smart and nuanced back who understands how to hit the holes properly. He was highly productive in the red zone over his career at Kentucky and can find a valuable role doing the same in the NFL. Rodriguez is a true game-closer who can wear down defences and pick up crucial first-downs in the fourth quarter. With a DUI back in 2022, Rodriguez could be a massive steal on day 3.
Grade: Round 3
AJ Dillon
8
Israel Abanikanda
RB / PITTSBURGH / 5'11 / 215
Abanikanda is a well-rounded back with impressive vision and fundamentals. He does not possess the power to wear down defences consistently, but his natural rushing ability and top speed in open space make Abanikanda an intriguing draft-day name. He is a decisive player with an effective jump cut. When navigating through traffic, Abanikanda can get skinny and avoid contact while also fighting for extra yards. At just 20 years old and with limited usage, Abanikanda will be a riser throughout the draft process.
Grade: Round 3
Isaiah Pacheco
9
Kendre Miller
RB / TCU / 6'0 / 220
Miller is a tough back with an impressive ability to navigate through traffic. He consistently breaks tackles and has an impressive vision of the interior. Miller possesses a workhorse mentality and demonstrates toughness throughout his runs. Although he does not reach an impressive top speed, Miller is a well-rounded back with a knack for positive yardage and decisive runs. He is a high-energy runner with impressive short-area quickness and footwork.
Grade: Round 3
Chris Carson
10
Tyjae Spears
RB / TULANE / 5'11 / 195
Spears is an extremely versatile and twitchy scat-back. He has impressive vision, creativity, and agility in open space. His main attribute is his ability to do damage as a pass catcher and a swiss-army knife. However, even at 195 lbs, Spears can contribute beyond his size in the run game. He has a knack for evading tackles and breaking off big plays. Spears can be an incredibly versatile weapon at the next level, contributing to various aspects of the game. Likely getting drafted later due to his size, Spears may be a big steal in this year's draft.
Grade: Round 3
Michael Carter
11
Kenny Mcintosh
RB / GEORGIA / 6'0 / 210
McIntosh is a natural runner who possesses excellent instincts and top-notch vision. He is very patient behind his blocks and is a dangerous threat in the open field. McIntosh is very decisive and has a good blend of size and agility. In addition to the rushing abilities, McIntosh is an experienced pass-catcher who can do damage at all levels of the field. He lacks the third-gear speed required to hit home runs in the NFL and is yet to develop any skill as a pass protector.
Grade: Round 3
David Montgomery
12
Eric Gray
RB / OKLAHOMA / 5'10 / 211
Gray is a twitchy and agile runner. He possesses impressive vision in open space and can clear a path with one jump cut. Gray has a nuanced ability to change pace while running and keep a defender guessing where he will go. His pass-catching capabilities boost his value, and he could become a coveted third-down back in the league. Gray is a fundamental runner with pro-level footwork and vision, but his lack of second-gear speed will limit his star potential at the next level.
Grade: Round 4
Miles Sanders
13
Tank Bigsby
RB / AUBURN / 6'0 / 213
Bigsby is a tough runner with an NFL-level frame. He has an excellent ability to bounce off tackles and hit the hole aggressively. Bigsby is a no-nonsense runner who invites contact and is willing to absorb hits. He tends to become too upright as a runner and sacrifices power and speed as a result. Bigsby lacks breakaway speed and elusiveness but adds value as a between-the-tackles guy who can move well through traffic. Additionally, he should add value as a productive red zone back.
Grade: Round 4
Brian Robinson
14
Chase Brown
RB / ILLINOIS / 5'11 / 205
Brown is a small and agile back with tight-knit mechanical movements. With his impressive burst and lethal first step, Brown is a home-run threat. At just 205 lbs, Brown lacks the necessary size to be a productive every-down back. However, with his unique skillset and impressive pass-catching abilities, I expect Brown to find a niche role at the next level and contribute to a team productively. To illustrate Brown as a prospect - he is a Bill Belichick type pick.
Grade: Round 4
Raheem Mostert
15
Tavion Thomas
RB / UTAH / 6'2 / 238
Thomas is a forceful back with an NFL frame. He can knock defenders over, wear defences down, and bring a physical element to the game. His vision between the tackles is impressive, and he uses his leg drive to create extra yardage in traffic. Thomas is more of a pure power back now and lacks the creativity and athleticism desired at the next level. However, with his combination of size, strength, and vision, Thomas could find a valuable role as an effective early down back in the NFL
Grade: Round 4
D'onta Foreman
16
Sean Tucker
RB / SYRACUSE / 5'10 / 205
Tucker is an extremely quick back with impressive footwork and lateral agility. He has home run speed and flashed potential as a valuable pass-catcher at the next level. With his impressive balance and play-making ability, Tucker could be a versatile weapon in any offence. He has a smaller build and lacks the power necessary to embrace contact. His upside as a workhorse is limited, but due to his explosiveness, Tucker should be able to find a valuable niche role in the NFL.
Grade: Round 4
Duke Johnson
17
Deuce Vaughan
RB / KANSAS STATE / 5'6 / 176
Vaughn is a highly talented pass-catching back with good vision and quick feet. At 175 lbs, Vaughn can not contribute between the tackles at the next level, obviously limiting his upside as a prospect. However, his route-running ability and knack for the game will make him an intriguing day-three prospect. If you are drafting Vaughn, you are doing so purely for his pass-catching and versatility. Vaughn could be an exciting third down back at the next level, even at his size. As a pure fundamental player, Vaughn is exceptional, but his limitations as a runner will hurt him in the long term.
Grade: Round 5
Darren Sproles
18
Keaton Mitchell
RB / EAST CAROLINA / 5'9 / 184
Mitchell is an explosive and quick back with home-run ability. He has good vision and an impressive ability to evade defenders with his elusiveness. Mitchell is very patient, but sometimes this backfires and ends up in a loss of yardage. Mitchell possesses breakaway speed and has incredible acceleration and burst. Despite this, Mitchell still has a very small frame and finds it hard to cultivate power between the tackles. I see Mitchell as a change-of-pace guy with upside as a pass-catcher and a versatile weapon.
Grade: Round 6
Jahvid Best
19
DeWayne McBride
RB / UAB / 5'11 / 215
McBride is a powerful runner who can get violent downhill. He has a thick frame and is very comfortable with contact. In a sense, McBride is too comfortable with contact, where he needs to make more effort to be elusive and gain separation. He lacks the desired agility of a top back and is more of a pure power guy at the moment. McBride should add value in the red zone and short-down situations.
Grade: Round 6
Latavius Murray
20
Mohammed Ibrahim
RB / MINNESOTA / 5'10 / 210
Ibrahim is a compact back with a low center of gravity. He has excellent vision and is relentless in finding extra yardage. He is a powerful player who possesses the ability to knock a defender over. However, entering the draft as a 25 year old running back with an injury history is hard to overcome. Additionally, with limited explosiveness and big play ability, Ibrahim may find his stock dropping on draft day. With that being said, he may outproduce his draft grade.
Grade: Round 6
Dameon Pierce
21
Travis Dye
RB / USC / 5'10 / 200
Dye is a versatile and quick back with sound fundamentals. With a small frame and lack of power, Dye is clearly not going to make his money as a pure runner. However, with good footwork and acceleration, I can see him carving out a role as a third-down pass-catching back. He is light on his feet and possesses good instincts in open space. With the lack above of rushing abilities, a season-ending injury in 2022, and being 24 years old entering the draft, Dye is facing an uphill battle as a draft prospect.
Grade: Round 7
Eno Benjamin
22
Evan Hull
RB / NORTHWESTERN / 5'11 / 210
Hull is a compact back with a tough demeanour and a knack for big plays. He is very quick but lacks a second gear as a runner. Hull has a good ability to break tackles and move well in traffic. He is a talented pass-catcher who can do damage in open space. Hull is not a very fluid runner and does not possess good lateral agility. However, with his grittiness and ability as a pass-catcher and blocker, Hull may carve out a role at the next level.
Grade: Round 7
Rex Burkhead
23
Xazavian Valladay
RB / ARIZONA STATE / 6'0 / 200
Valladay is a natural runner with good vision and instincts. With a slight build and a lack of creativity, he often gets stopped at the line of scrimmage and is prone to negative plays. Valladay is decisive and can plant his foot and explode in the opposite direction. He is not very creative and acts as more of a straight-line runner as of now. With his lack of size, balance, and upside, I see Valladay as more of a rotational runner at the next level.
Grade: Round 7
Ronald Jones
24
Camerun Peoples
RB / APPALACHIAN ST. / 6'2 / 220
Peoples is a very large back with good power. He is a very upright runner and lacks the explosiveness off his initial burst. Peoples can often break tackles in space due to his large frame and long strides. However, even for his size, Peoples does not possess the coveted ability of a violent runner. At his size, Peoples is just banking on being an effective blocker at the next level.
Grade: Round 7
DeMarco Murray
25
Tiyon Evans
RB / LOUISVILLE / 5'9 / 225
Evans is a compact running back with good balance. He has solid short-area burst and acceleration but lacks the top-end getaway speed. Evans has good vision in the trenches and possesses impressive footwork, allowing him to control his movements efficiently. He lacks the ability as a receiving threat, limiting his potential value as a third-down back. Evans could be a decent rotational guy in the NFL, but his lack of explosiveness and security issues will limit his upside.