1. D’Andre Swift, Georgia
Pros: Aggressive runner with a low centre of gravity who is a huge threat in the open field. Has great vision and showed the ability to consistently identify the right running lanes. Played in a pro-style running offense in Georgia but wasn’t overworked, with 441 career carries. Genuine weapon out of the backfield and even played in the slot on occasion. Excellent hands, with just three drops in his career.
Cons: Can take a while to reach top speed and has a high running style that can cause problems. Not particularly impressive at working through contact and has a tendency to struggle when things get messy on runs between the tackles. Durability is a concern after a host of niggling injuries in college.
Projection: 2nd round
2. Zack Moss, Utah
Pros: Has great change of direction ability and the power to drive through contact. Good hands and showed that he can be an effective receiving weapon. Tough to bring down too, with 33 broken tackles on his 66 collegiate receptions and his 89 forced missed tackles in 2019 ranked second in the nation. Has the football intelligence and vision that you look for in a prospect.
Cons: Lack of top end speed, often struggling to create separation in the open field. Quite a lot of tread on his tires, with over 700 carries in college. His decision making can be a problem, often overthinking and looking for the perfect cutback instead of ploughing forward in short yardage situations.
Projection: 2nd round
3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Pros: The ideal combination of size and speed you want from a running back. Across his three seasons in Wisconsin, Taylor ran for over 6,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per run. More impressively, he averaged 4.24 yards after contact and is one of the most powerful running backs in this year’s class.
Cons: His heavy workload in college – over 900 carries – will lead to questions about the longevity of his career. Despite efforts to improve in 2019 he has shown little as a receiver out of the backfield and there will be questions as to whether he can be a true three-down back.
Projection: 2nd round
4. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
Pros: The perfect combination of explosive runner and solid receiver, Dobbins lined up outside the backfield on almost 10% of his snaps and had over 20 receptions in each of his three seasons. Always a threat to make a big play, he led the nation with 31 carries of 15+ yards in 2019. He has quick feet and great speed for his size, with excellent vision and elusiveness.
Cons: He isn’t a particularly polished pass-protector and got caught out on several occasions. He can on occasion tend towards a conservative approach and runs high between the tackles. His physical running style will lead to some concerns around durability.
Projection: 2nd round
5. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Pros: Elusive three-down back with fantastic hands. He had just 15 targets before last season but put up 453 yards from his 55 receptions in 2019. A great route runner who PFF ranked as the most valuable running back in 2019 and 13th most valuable player in all of college football. Built like a bowling ball with great balance, making him tough to bring down.
Cons: Only produced at a top level in his junior year. Good acceleration but lacks the long speed you would expect at the position and struggled to break away from defenders. Pass protection is not bad but could certainly improve.
Projection: 3rd round
6. Cam Akers, Florida State
Pros: Was consistently impressive despite running behind one of the worst offensive lines in the nation. Great lateral speed with the ability to make defenders miss. A physical runner that drives through contact, with 76 forced missed tackles in 2019. Consistently improved in pass-protection throughout his career. Good anticipation and speed too.
Cons: Despite a decent number of targets he is not particularly effective as a receiver and functioned more as a contingency plan that a true threat in his own right. Vision occasionally let him down as he tried to do too much, rather than just take the easy yards. Ball security is a real concern, with 10 fumbles across his three seasons.
Projection: 3rd round
7. Antonio Gibson, Memphis
Pros: Versatile weapon who plays as a running back/wide receiver hybrid. Great hands and the ability to make big plays downfield as a receiver. At 6-3 and 228 pounds he is powerfully built and tough to bring down, with excellent vision. Great speed and explosiveness, running a 4.39 40-yard dash at the Combine. Effective as a returner too. With just 77 career touches he is fresh, with very little wear and tear.
Cons: Seriously inexperienced, with just 33 rushing attempts in his career at Memphis and almost all of them in split-back shotgun sets. Route running isn’t anywhere near what you would expect from a receiver and he was never asked to pass protect in college. Potentially huge upside but a real unknown quantity.
Projection: 4th round
8. Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky
Pros: Bowden is listed as a receiver but played quarterback and running back as well at Kentucky in 2019, and his future in the NFL is likely the latter. Led the SEC in rushing yards ahead of players like Clyde Edwards-Helaire. When under center he still produced on the ground, even though teams often knew he would be running the ball. Broke 0.3 tackles per attempt which is better than most running backs. Would offer an impressive receiving weapon out of the backfield who could play wildcat snaps too.
Cons: Undersized at the position, at just 5-11 and 204 pounds. Was effective in his unique role in Kentucky but there will be questions about whether he can become a true three-down back at the next level. Doesn’t have top-level speed and has no experience in pass-protection.
Projection: 4th round
9. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
Pros: A real one-cut runner who is able to get up to speed fast. Plays the game with good vision and anticipation and performed well despite playing behind a bad offensive line at Vanderbilt. Not an incredible route runner but a good checkdown option with really solid hands.
Cons: Offers very little after contact. Poor in pass-protection, allowing 17 pressures in his 229 pass-blocking snaps. Production fell off noticeably from 2018, from 7.9 yards per carry to 5.2 Older than most at the position, turning 23 a few weeks after the Draft.
Projection: 4th round
10. Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
Pros: A downhill runner who pinballs off would-be tacklers, Benjamin put up 62 forced missed tackles in 2019. He is a great pass-catching back, with 77 receptions for 609 yards in the past two seasons. An elusive runner who is tricky to bring down, he showed that he could produce with a high workload, with 553 carries since 2018.
Cons: Can be indecisive when holes don’t open up, something that is likely to worsen in the NFL where space will shrink. Always looking for the big play and sometimes leaves the easy yards on the table as a result. Lacks real second-gear speed and at 5-9 and 207 pounds he is small for the position.
Projection: 5th round
