2024 NFL Draft - Running Backs

 

Unlike QBs, and the yet to come WRs and to some extent TEs, running back is weak at the top. There’s a pick your poison in each tier but no player you’re going to be absolutely sold on. That said everyone will have the guys they like, and overlook their flaws because that’s just what we do this time of year.

Previously Posted Positions - QB

 

Player (Class (as listed by the college)) | Team (Conference) | Height, Weight |

Touches (Adjusted Yards per Att/Adjusted Yards per Target)

40 | 10 | Shuttle | 3-Cone | Vert | Broad | Production | Role (Gr)

 

Roles & Grades – Starter (S) 8.0-7.1, Expected Starter (ES) 7.0-6.1, Potential Starter (PS) 6.0-4.1, Backup (B) 4-3.1, and Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) 3.0-2.1

 

Jonathan Brooks (So) | Texas (BXII) | 6’ 0 3/8”, 216 lbs. | 212 (7.07/7.63)

n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 10.70 | ES (6.7)

Blake Corum (Sr) | Michigan (B1G) | 5’ 7 3/4”, 205 lbs. | 274 (6.75/5.45)

4.50 | 1.56| 4.12 | 6.82 | 35.5 | n/a | 11.38 | ES (6.6)

Brooks is coming off an ACL injury but when he was healthy last year he made the little adjustments that allow a back to consistently take a couple more yards than the average back, he’s decisive in the hole, and has very good hands. He’s also one of the younger backs in the draft. Corum (and Lloyd who’s next) is on the older side at a bit over 23. Corum is a mature runner and although a bit on the small side he’s well built, presses the hole well, and is patient while also getting downfield with urgency and maximizing his runs.

 

MarShawn Lloyd (RSJr) | USC (P12) | 5’ 8 3/4”, 220 lbs. | 129 (8.50/11.05)

4.43 | 1.52 | n/a | n/a | 36 | 118 | 10.03 | ES (6.4)

Trey Benson (RSJr) | Florida State (ACC) | 6’ 0 1/4”, 216 lbs. | 167 (7.50/6.86)

4.39 | 1.52 | n/a | n/a | 33.5 | 122 | 9.36 | ES (6.4)

Braelon Allen (Jr) | Wisconsin (B1G) | 6’ 1 1/4”, 235 lbs. | 209 (6.66/2.91)

n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 32 | 117 | 8.40 | ES (6.3)

Jaylen Wright (Jr) | Tennessee (SEC) | 5’ 10 1.2”, 210 lbs. | 159 (7.93/4.03)

4.37 | 1.51 | n/a | n/a | 38 | 134 | 8.60 | ES (6.2)

Dillon Johnson (Jr) | Washington (P12) | 5’ 11 5/8”, 217 lbs. | 257 (6.39/5.00)

4.68 | 1.57 | n/a | n/a | 31.5 | 117 | 10.22 | ES (6.1)

Lloyd might be my favorite watch and has the burst and frenetic movement that is severely lacking from this draft as a whole. He’s knocked by a nearly 4% fumble rate which is something that can be worked on but needs to be nipped in the bud to maximize early touches. Benson is a physical freak, he moves in space in ways that a man that big should not, the thing that gives me hesitation is that he does punish tacklers the way you’d hope for his size. There are times that you’re just waiting for him to use his size to punish a player in the hole or in the open field and the hammer just doesn’t drop. All-in-all he’s a special mover, especially at his size, I just wish he had that little extra nasty to him. Allen bursted onto the stage as a 17-year-old at Wisconsin. Another big back he moves well, has good burst, but lacks a bit of the top end speed.  He was hampered by injuries throughout the ’23 season that zapped his athleticism, teams will be hoping he regains his previous form and that young breakout age is a nice indicator to have. Wright has great burst and top end speed, something he showed on his TD against Georgia where he just pulled away from everybody. Wright has a little wiggle to him but I would say his game is built around shaking guys in the hole or open field. Johnson was hampered by injuries in the back half of 2024, that combined with his 4.68 40 dropped him down, despite the lack of that top end speed he was very productive at Washington when on the field, was an active part of the pass game, pressed the hole well, and made moves in the open field to maximize his touches. He needs to do the opposite of Benson for me and just be a bit smarter about where and how he takes hits.

 

Tyrone Tracy Jr (6th) | Purdue (B1G) | 5’ 11 1/8”, 209 lbs. | 132 (7.64/4.40)

4.44 | 1.50 | 4.06 | 6.81 | 40 | 124 | 7.59 | PS (6.0)

Will Shipley (Jr) | Clemson (ACC) | 5’ 11”, 206 lbs. | 198 (5.50/5.77)

4.46 | 1.54 | 4.15 | 6.94 | 41.5 | 129 | 9.01 | PS (5.9)

Bucky Irving (Jr) | Oregon (P12) | 5’ 9”, 192 lbs. | 242 (7.43/5.07)

4.53 | 1.53 | n/a | n/a | 31.5 | 115 | 11.10 | ES (5.9)

Tracy is an older prospect who has transitioned from wide receiver but he runs well inside and outside, is dynamic in the passing game (obviously), and surprisingly active and useful in pass blocking. He translates immediately into a 3^rd down back you can trust to protect the QB if/when needed right away. For Shipley’s size I was expecting the run game work to be what drew me to him but while he’s fine in the ground game it was actually his work as a receiver that intrigues me. He’s not a flashy athlete in space but he ran good crisp routes with breaks that helped him create space and move well in space after the catch to make him a real asset in the pass game. The first thing I noticed about Irving is that he feels like he’s falling forward at all times, sometimes it looks like he going to fall flat on his face as he’s running but that’s besides the point. He’s got solid body control/balance, size may ultimately hold him back but he hits the hole hard, gets vertical immediately, and is a solid pass catcher.

 

The Rest

Player	Cl	Tm	Ht	Wt	Tou	AY/R	AY/T	40	10	SS	3C	VJ	BJ	Role	Gr
Audric Estime	Jr	ND	71.375	221	227	7.96	5.26	4.61	1.58	x	x	38	125	PS	5.8
Isaac Guerendo	Sr	LOU	72	221	154	7.67	6.69	4.33	1.54	4.15	6.94	41.5	129	PS	5.8
Cody Schrader	Grad	MIZZ	68.5	202	298	6.83	5.46	4.57	1.57	4.46	7.38	33	106	PS	5.7
Ray Davis	Sr	UK	68.375	211	232	6.97	8.64	4.5	1.57	4.33	c	35	119	PS	5.6
Keilan Robinson	Sr	UT	68.375	191	20	15.77	4.31	4.37	1.51	4.3	c	33	125	PS	5.5
Dylan Laube	RSSr	UNH	69.875	206	228	5.72	7.72	4.43	1.51	4.02	6.84	37	118	PS	5.4
Emani Bailey	Jr	TCU	67.375	202	248	6.08	5.08	4.58	1.58	4.5	7.28	34.5	x	PS	5.4
Kimani Vidal	Jr	TROY	67.875	213	315	6.46	7.60	4.43	1.5	4.15	7.01	37.5	120	PS	5.3
Blake Watson	5th	MEM	69.5	200	245	7.34	6.46	4.4	1.55	4.32	7.13	41.5	135	PS	5.0
Frank Gore Jr	Jr	SoMI	67.875	198	258	5.69	6.49	4.69	1.64	c	c	29	111	PS	5.0
Isaiah Davis	Sr	SDSt	72.25	218	259	8.49	5.90	4.56	1.57	4.3	x	34.5	119	PS	4.8
Carson Steele	Jr	UCLA	72.625	228	184	5.73	7.47	4.77	1.6	4.36	7.07	37.5	116	PS	4.8
George Holani	RSSr	BSU	70.375	208	151	6.54	7.37	4.51	1.56	4.33	7.32	39	127	PS	4.8
Jaden Shirden	Jr	MONM	68	187	241	7.52	4.35	4.43	1.51	INJ	INJ	34.5	117	PS	4.3
Nathaniel Peat	Grad	MIZZ	68.25	196	84	4.77	10.03	4.52	1.57	4.25	7.1	41	128	PS	4.7
Ramon Jefferson	6th	UK	69.125	201	28	6.57	0.00	4.54	1.55	4.33	7.09	39.5	127	PS	4.7
British Brooks	Grad	UNC	70.125	219	88	5.56	3.32	4.59	1.57	4.43	7.09	37	123	PS	4.7
Kobe Lewis	Grad	FAU	69.125	208	102	5.49	3.45	4.56	1.58	4.2	7.15	35	122	PS	4.6
Isaiah Woullard	Grad	ULM	69	213	107	4.75	3.24	4.59	1.6	4.21	7.07	30.5	115	PS	4.6
Dontae Smith	RSSr	GT	69.25	199	110	5.78	6.96	4.52	1.5	4.39	7.21	35	131	PS	4.6
La'Damian Webb	Sr	SALA	67.125	211	210	7.00	4.30	4.68	1.59	4.6	7.27	29.5	112	PS	4.6
Michael Wiley	Sr	ARI	70.5	210	98	5.23	8.94	4.5	1.55	4.43	7.14	35.5	120	PS	4.5
Dominic Gonnella	Sr	USF	70.625	208	3	2.00	4.00	4.61	1.59	4.21	7.09	37	121	PS	4.5
Kendall Milton	Sr	UGA	73.5	225	125	8.66	4.17	4.58	1.53	4.38	x	35.5	124	PS	4.5
Trey Potts	RSSr	PSU	69	209	29	7.67	12.72	4.61	1.6	4.35	7.21	35	112	PS	4.5
Elijah Collins	RSSr	OKSt	72	212	32	5.96	6.33	4.54	1.62	4.25	7.1	38	125	PS	4.5
Jawhar Jordan	RSJr	LOU	69.5	193	202	7.55	8.04	4.55	1.51	4.52	7	c	123	PS	4.5
C'Bo Flemister	RSSr	PITT	71	205	106	4.12	9.64	4.57	1.56	4.26	7.03	37.5	118	PS	4.4
Colson Yankoff	RSSr	UCLA	75.25	233	15	7.80	-1.67	4.62	1.57	4.25	7	33.5	118	PS	4.4
Kairee Robinson	Sr	SJSU	66.75	195	34	89.72	8.76	4.7	1.58	4.39	7.16	34	112	PS	4.4
Markese Stepp	RSSr	WKU	71.5	229	76	5.29	6.64	4.67	1.65	INJ	INJ	33	124	PS	4.4
Jabari Small	Sr	TENN	68.75	198	102	5.39	3.64	4.62	1.55	4.34	x	36	117	PS	4.4
Austin Jones	RSSr	USC	69.625	200	98	7.13	5.82	4.58	1.64	4.39	7	36.5	120	PS	4.4
Rasheen Ali	Jr	MARS	71.25	206	240	6.66	5.16	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	PS	4.3
Isaiah Ifanse	RSSr	CAL	68.375	205	78	7.05	5.33	4.61	1.65	4.59	7.24	36.5	117	PS	4.3
Aidan Robbins	Jr	BYU	73.75	237	108	4.98	3.00	4.62	1.62	4.4	7.17	30	117	PS	4.3
Jase McClellan	Sr	ALA	71.375	221	195	5.76	5.71	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	PS	4.3
Dakereon Joyner	6th	SoCa	71.625	226	71	4.24	3.55	4.76	1.63	INJ	INJ	36	118	PS	4.2
Daijun Edwards	Sr	UGA	69.625	207	185	6.78	6.16	4.71	1.63	4.32	7.2	30	113	PS	4.2
Josh Henderson	Sr+	IND	71	215	91	4.61	9.02	4.72	1.66	4.35	7.2	35	120	PS	4.2
Ari Broussard	RSSr	RICE	70.875	222	31	3.14	4.67	4.83	1.71	4.4	7.26	34.5	122	PS	4.2
DJ Williams	Grad	ARI	69.625	225	86	5.46	1.00	4.59	1.69	4.59	7.49	30.5	109	PS	4.1
Jermaine Brown Jr	Sr	UAB	67.875	184	199	6.48	6.70	4.56	1.55	4.4	7.26	32.5	117	PS	4.1
Jahmyl Jeter	RSSr	TxSt	71.875	224	1	-	4.50	4.66	1.65	4.3	7.35	30	111	PS	4.1
Miyan Williams	Sr	OSU	68.5	229	53	4.35	7.00	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ	PS	4.1
Ryan Montgomery	Sr	CIN	69.625	201	65	6.43	7.20	4.67	1.64	4.4	7.13	32.5	116	B	4.0
Samson Evans	Grad	EMU	72	215	154	6.03	4.68	4.8	1.61	4.44	7.06	33.5	115	B	4.0
Tyler Lavine	Sr	SMU	70.125	218	46	7.61	4.73	4.81	1.69	4.49	7.26	32.5	115	B	4.0
Anthony Grant	Sr	NEB	70.75	221	108	4.50	2.17	4.73	1.58	4.53	7.21	26	107	B	4.0
Narii Gaither	RSSr	GaWe	67.875	179	172	5.07	7.53	4.63	1.57	4.4	7.15	33.5	120	B	3.9
Kavosiey Smoke	So	COLO	69.5	202	2	-1.00	0.00	4.64	1.58	4.56	7.26	29	111	B	3.9
Noah Cain	Sr	LSU	70.125	222	38	6.38	12.65	4.71	1.65	4.71	7.41	30.5	108	B	3.9
Latrele Palmer	Sr	JMU	71	218	35	4.56	5.33	4.76	1.62	4.47	7.5	28	114	B	3.7
Jacob Kibodi	RSSr	ULL	72.5	218	138	6.65	7.02	4.64	1.66	4.57	7.41	30.5	122	B	3.7
Donavyn Lester	Sr	UNLV	72.5	214	100	6.53	2.25	4.75	1.7	4.43	x	36	124	B	3.7
Deshaun Fenwick	RSSr	OrSt	72.875	223	105	6.32	8.19	4.77	1.65	4.47	7.34	32.5	116	B	3.7
Deion Smith	Sr	BYU	70.75	194	33	3.58	5.27	4.58	1.63	4.32	7.35	30	125	B	3.7
Jaylen Coleman	Grad	DUKE	72.625	200	54	4.10	4.38	4.63	1.6	4.28	6.99	33	120	B	3.7
Vincent Davis Jr	Sr	UNLV	67.875	174	156	6.13	6.63	4.59	1.52	4.47	7.33	33	118	B	3.6
Lorenzo Lingard	RSSr	AKR	72.125	202	195	4.79	6.81	4.49	1.65	4.59	7.38	35.5	120	B	3.6
Sean Tyler	5	MINN	68.375	182	65	3.97	0.83	4.61	1.62	4.44	7.03	33.5	117	B	3.6
Dylan McDuffie	RSSr	KAN	70.25	218	45	7.26	0.00	4.77	1.71	4.53	7.43	30	112	B	3.5
Tyre Shelton	Sr	LT	70	184	106	6.63	2.86	4.53	1.53	4.45	7.2	32	112	B	3.5
Christian Turner	RSSr+	IND	69.375	208	52	5.07	0.00	4.81	1.7	4.58	7.52	34	125	B	3.5
Mark-Antony Richards	RSSr	UCF	72.75	219	11	6.43	3.60	4.74	1.63	4.55	7.52	30	120	B	3.4
Malik Jackson	RSSr	JVST	67.875	176	161	7.02	3.42	4.59	1.56	4.38	7.39	29	114	B	3.3
D.J. Twitty	6th	SoCa	70.875	222	3	0.00	0.00	4.86	1.69	4.54	7.71	29.5	111	B	3.1
Dee Williams	Sr	TENN	70.5	190	2	-	3.33	4.56	1.65	4.37	7.35	30.5	114	UDFA	3.0
Eddie Battle	RSSr	UF	74	210	6	2.33	0.00	4.7	1.68	4.33	7.07	31	114	UDFA	3.0
David Bailey Jr	Grad	aTm	72	225	21	5.77	8.00	4.94	1.71	INJ	INJ	26.5	105	UDFA	2.9
Nakia Watson	RSSr	WSU	71.25	216	113	4.43	7.58	4.96	1.71	4.39	7.35	30.5	110	UDFA	2.8
Larry McCammon III	Sr	FAU	69.625	207	174	5.19	5.13	5.01	1.65	4.45	7.47	29.5	107	UDFA	2.7
Reese White	Sr+	CoCa	69.125	201	86	7.30	3.07	4.88	1.67	4.5	7.28	25.5	102	UDFA	2.6
Antavious Willis	RSJr	SoMi	70	180	9	4.67	8.20	4.65	1.64	4.49	7.36	33	118	UDFA	2.6
Shedro Louis	Sr	TULA	67.125	166	38	2.97	5.83	4.56	1.66	4.4	7.34	30.5	113	UDFA	2.5
Nazar Bombata	RSSr	ARI	71.875	202	1	11.00	0.00	4.75	1.76	4.52	7.38	31.5	115	UDFA	2.5
John Paddock	Sr	ILL	71.25	193	12	-3.25	0.00	4.95	1.68	4.5	7.46	28	112	UDFA	2.2
Asa Martin	Sr	TROY	70.375	199	36	4.56	5.63	4.9	1.78	4.8	7.35	27.5	104	UDFA	2.1