NFL Draft 2017 - The Running Backs
Let's start our look at this year's draft by reviewing some of the top running back options. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, so please share analysis, commentary and gifs of your favorite prospects in the comments section.
Note: I'll cover fullbacks when I review tight ends later on today.
Jets Needs: Running Backs
Is the running back position a big need for the Jets? They are arguably much stronger there than they are at most other positions, especially on offense. However, many believe that adding a dynamic back would be the best way to mitigate the anticipated sub-par performance from the quarterback position.
Matt Forté and Bilal Powell are both under contract for a couple more years at reasonable money. Powell was arguably the Jets' most consistent offensive player last year and, while he didn't have the same impact as Brandon Marshall in coming over from Chicago, Forté made some good contributions. Unless someone unexpected emerges, there's not much behind them, though.
Therefore, it's clearly time to look ahead and add a younger back to the mix to bring a change of pace and hopefully develop into a lead back within a year or two. They might not need to use a high pick to obtain such a player, though.
First round prospects
The consensus top back in this year's draft is LSU's Leonard Fournette. Manish Mehta from the Daily News said the Jets would be "nuts to pass on Fournette" if he fell to them at #6. Fournette's ability to breakaway for long touchdowns and to truck defenders makes his film impressive and his production was excellent.
However, there are some questions over him, including durability, vision and his impact in the passing game. He also posted an uneven set of numbers in pre-draft workouts.
There have been some other backs that some are projecting into the early part of the first round, namely Dalvin Cook from FSU and Christian McCaffery from Stanford.
McCaffery is a do-it-all back who excels in the passing game and is also a big threat as a return man, but the Stanford offense went into a funk during the season, costing him a chance at the Heisman. He also divided opinion when he opted to sit out their bowl game. However, after some solid workouts, the latest buzz on him, via Greg Gabriel, is that the Panthers will take him with the 8th pick.
Cook's stock has fallen due to off-field concerns and poor pre-draft workout numbers, but his talent and burst are evident:
It's also worth discussing Oklahoma's Joe Mixon in the context of a first round pick. While Mixon has his own off-field issues that will knock him off many teams' draft boards altogether, his big play talent will entice some teams regardless. In a recent poll of NFL scouts, one actually had Mixon rated as the best player in the entire draft!
Non-first rounders
After the first round, there's plenty of other players who could be solid pick-ups. Those include Tennessee's Alvin Kamara, Toledo's Kareem Hunt, D'Onta Foreman from Texas and Wyoming's Brian Hill.
Kamara combines outstanding explosiveness and elusiveness numbers with good production in the passing game.
Hunt is small and didn't post outstanding measurables, but showcases surprising burst, power and elusiveness on film and contributes in the passing game as well as running the ball. He also fumbled just once in his entire college career. You can see his quick feet and finishing ability on this nice run:
Foreman is a big back who rushed for over 2,000 yards. While he isn't necessarily the most elusive back in the draft, he has good power and is one of the best pass protectors in this year's draft. That could enable him to get on the field earlier than some of this year's class. He fumbled seven times last year, though, worryingly.
Hill is a good example of a guy who has unremarkable athleticism numbers and perhaps isn't considered as dynamic as some of this year's "sexier" picks. Nevertheless, he has excellent vision, doesn't leave a lot of yards on the field and is consistently productive. Hill doesn't offer much as a pass catcher, but was used a lot in pass protection, so he has some experience there. As you can see below, he can make highlight reel-type plays, despite his reputation.
Late round sleepers
A later option might be Matthew Dayes. Much like Hill, he isn't regarded as particularly dynamic but he ran a 4.47 at the combine and is another no-nonsense back that was consistent in terms of his production.
New Mexico's Teriyon Gipson is worth a closer look if only because of his impressive 8.9 yards per carry average. He was one of the most productive backs on long runs, gaining almost 60% of his yards on just 17 of his 142 carries.
Tarik Cohen is a smaller back from a small school (North Carolina A&T), but you can see his athleticism and word is that there are several teams who have a draftable grade on him.
Finally, according to Rotoviz, running backs that (a) are 5'10" or taller, (b) ran a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and (c) had a 124" broad jump or more have a 78 percent chance of success in the NFL. It's therefore worth noting that Utah's Joe Williams - who retired during the season but then changed his mind - was the only back at the combine to achieve all three of these benchmarks.
Let's have your views in the comments! Who is overrated, who is underrated and who did we not mention that interests you?