NFL draft positional rankings: After Zeke Elliott, any special RBs?
Leading up to the NFL draft on April 28-30, Shutdown Corner will examine each position, rank the top players at each spot and identify some sleepers, sliders and lesser-known gems.
Did Todd Gurley chance the perception of how high NFL teams can draft a running back?
As the league started shifting more heavily toward the pass and away from the run, the final straw, it seemed, for drafting a back in the top 10 picks came when the Cleveland Browns traded up Trent Richardson with the third pick in the draft.
Forget the fact that the Browns did well by selling fairly high when they traded him to the Indianapolis Colts the following year. The narrative was in: Backs shouldn’t go in the top 10 these days.
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But what about special ones? Gurley proved over the final three-quarters of his rookie season, once he had recovered from a torn ACL, that truly gifted runners still have a place in the modern NFL. He averaged 91.5 rushing yards in games he started and finished strong despite a limited offense around him.
NFL scouts appear to value Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott in the same way as they did Gurley, but without the injury question. Elliott was a horse for the 2014 championship Buckeyes and was the one consistent producer on a talented but flawed offense in 2015. He has rare vision, burst, receiving ability, toughness and balance and is expected to be a Day 1 starter — and perhaps a top-10 pick as well — wherever he lands.
Alabama’s Heisman-winning back, Derrick Henry, is a big, physical runner who is not viewed as can’t-miss by every scout. However, we believe he has enough power and skill to be productive in an NFL system that doesn’t ask him to pull rabbits out of hats, or behind a quality offensive line such as that of the Dallas Cowboys or Oakland Raiders.
The rest of the class is good, perhaps even very good, if not special. No one back looks like Elliott off the hoof, but there might be a real gem or two in the class — we like Arkansas’ Jonathan Williams a good deal — that surprises.
Shutdown Corner’s Top 10 Running Backs for 2016
1. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State — 6-foot, 225 pounds — Virtually flawless prospect who does everything very well or better, Elliott should excel almost immediately
2. Derrick Henry, Alabama — 6-3, 247 — In the mold of Brandon Jacobs or LeGarrette Blount, a power runner with light feet who could thrive in right system
3. Jonathan Williams, Arkansas — 5-11, 220 — Tremendous, hard-charging inside slasher with three-down ability but must answer questions about health, fumbling
4. Jordan Howard, Indiana — 6-0, 230 — Ideal size, makeup and mentality, and he thrived against strong competition, but long-term durability might be issue
5. Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech — 5-10, 215 — Athletically gifted, spirited TD hound who is fun to watch on tape, but fumbling is a bit concerning
6. Alex Collins, Arkansas — 5-10, 217 — Stepped up game with Williams hurt in 2015 and ran hard, effectively but not quite as gifted
7. Kelvin Taylor, Florida — 5-10, 207 — Lacks top-end speed but has excellent leg drive and inside vision, and he never once fumbled in 510 touches at UF
8. Paul Perkins, UCLA — 5-10, 208 — Has explosion to be a terrific playmaker, but we think he might be committee playmaker (e.g. Gio Bernard)
9. Devontae Booker, Utah — 5-11, 219 — Silky glider who has plus receiving ability but has injury concerns, heavy college workload, turns 24 in May
10. C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame — 6-0, 220 — Big-bodied, raw runner (background as S, WR) with ideal size, good makeup to be late developer, very solid pro
Positional grade: B
We think the running back position, despite being devalued the past decade, might be cycling back through in the NFL. This a good crop with one clearly special back (Elliott) and a solid lot that could bear three or four more good annual producers.
Sleeper
Devon Johnson, Marshall
“Rockhead,” as he’s known, is a powerful, forward-falling back who could tenderize defenses in a controlled role. He was banged up as a senior, and his injuries even carried over to the all-star circuit (he gamely battled through them at the East-West Shrine Game). But when healthy Johnson is a force at 6-foot, 238 pounds and yet is used to playing in a pass-heavy, up-tempo offense. He might not be the world’s most creative runner, but he’s decisive and potent in short-yardage situations and will break a few straight-ahead medium runs and surprise with his explosion. Throw in some really good special-teams value (covering kickoffs and punts) and Johnson really could be a nice surprise if his back checks out medically and is not seen as a chronic worry.
Small-school wonder
Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State
Built a bit like Maurice Jones-Drew, Coprich lacks MJD’s rare track speed and inside vision. But he has some burst and explosion (improving his vertical leap at his pro day to 39 inches, up from 34 at the combine), as well as good elusiveness. Scouts love the way the rocked-up Coprich competes, even as a pass protector. He has pass-catching ability that was underutilized at ISU and could work his way into a complementary role in the NFL. Although Coprich is on probation for a marijuana arrest, his interviews with NFL teams have gone well to date.
More on NFL prospects
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
