Running back draft prospects
Saquon Barkley tops the NFL position preview
The top running back prospects entering the NFL draft:
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (6-0,
233 pounds): If there’s a better player in this draft, good luck finding him. Barkley’s combination of breakaway speed, strength and sweet feet enable him to run over, through, around and away from defenders (though he might be wise not to go airborne quite so often). An every-down player, he racked up more than 3,800 yards from scrimmage over the past two seasons, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and catching 82 passes. Barkley should have at least as much instant impact as recent first-rounders Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. Made a mockery of the combine (4.4 40, 29 reps on bench, 41-inch vertical and wonderful when answering questions from the podium). Projected: potential top five
2. Sony Michel, Georgia (5-11, 214): As ubiquitous as the Alvin Kamara comparison is, it truly is quite apt. Michel isn’t a burner either (4.54 40 speed), yet he seems to glide effortlessly past defenders. When he is caught from behind, it’s usually after immense damage has already been done. Like Kamara, Michel shared his Southeastern Conference workload, so he’ll enter the pros with plenty of tread on the tires. Averaged a gaudy 7.9 yards per carry last year in college football’s best conference and saved his best performance (222 yards from scrimmage, four touchdowns) in the Bulldogs’ College Football Playoff semifinal defeat of Oklahoma. Should be a bigger receiving threat in NFL. Projected: Round 1-2
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (5-10, 224): How good is he? The Tigers hardly missed Fournette when Guice replaced him, partially in 2016 and permanently last year. Expect to see some NFL defensive backs making “business decisions” when they see him running downhill in their direction. A violent but patient runner, Guice will remind some of Marshawn Lynch in his prime. Like Fournette, he’ll probably prove to be a better receiver with more capable quarterback play. Projected: Round 1-2
4. Nick Chubb, Georgia (5-11, 227): The other half of the record-setting duo he formed with Michel, it’s lazy to pigeonhole Chubb as the between-thetackles banger. It’s a job he did with a great degree of effectiveness, but it’s worth noting his timed speed at the combine (4.52) was better than his Bulldog wingman’s. Chubb also trumps Michel when it comes to ball security. He’ll have to prove he’s more than a twodown player, but Chubb could be fantastic if dropped into a zone-blocking system. Injury history could ding his stock. Projected: Round 2
5. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
(5-11, 220): A man among boys in the Mountain West Conference. He led the country by running for 2,248 yards in
2017 and scored 23 TDs on the ground. He also took seven kickoffs to the house over the past three seasons. He is a load when combining his size with 4.46 40 speed yet also nimbly changes direction. Projected: Round 2
6. Ronald Jones, Southern California (5-11, 205): He personally invites the inevitable Jamaal Charles comparisons, which are fueled by Jones’ slender frame, No. 25 jersey and, most importantly, his explosive speed and homerun ability (20 TDs in 2017). Can cut on a dime when he needs to. Makes most of downfield blocking. Will need to show he can assume bigger role as receiver. Nagging hamstring injury curbed predraft workouts. Projected: Round 2
7. Kerryon Johnson, Auburn (5-11,
213): Discount any player who runs for
18 TDs and nearly 1,400 yards against SEC competition at your peril. That said, he doesn’t seem to have an eyepopping attribute, and his basketball player’s frame might not hold up well in the NFL. Projected: Round 2-3
8. Kalen Ballage, Arizona State (6-1,
228): Very impressive speed (4.46) for a man his size but wasn’t an especially productive player for the Sun Devils. Did catch 44 passes in 2016 and can return kicks. Projected: Round 3-4
9. Bo Scarbrough, Alabama (6-1,
228): The Tide’s version of Derrick Henry-lite, though Scarbrough isn’t much smaller than his 6-3, 247-pound predecessor. A punishing runner, too, Scarbrough has absorbed more than his fair share of injuries. Projected: Round 3-4
10. Royce Freeman, Oregon (5-11,
229): Adds 4.5 speed to a sturdy build. His 6,435 career yards from scrimmage for the Ducks is notable, but he’ll enter the NFL with more than 1,000 touches on his odometer over the past four years. Projected: Round 4
11. Mark Walton, Miami (Fla.) (5-10,
202): Could immediately carve out a spot as a third-down back. Great hands. Bum ankle limited him to five games last year. Projected: Round 4-5
12. Nyheim Hines, North Carolina State (5-8, 198): Given his likely role as a specialty player, hard to peg his worth. Size is an obvious drawback, but his
4.38 speed will be an enticement. Might be better served to play in the slot. Projected: Round 3-5
Teams in need of running backs
1. Giants: If New York opts for Barkley, he’d have a massive impact on an offense that hasn’t had anyone crack 900 rushing yards in the past five seasons.
2. Colts: They have Marlon Mack, but he couldn’t unseat Frank Gore in 2017. You’d think GM Chris Ballard will pounce on Barkley if he drops to No. 6.
3. Buccaneers: The patchwork group that tried to fill in last year for Doug Martin remains, but Tampa Bay needs to do better to effectively reduce the load on quarterback Jameis Winston.
4. Lions: The NFL’s worst run team in
2017 (and 2015), the last time Detroit ranked better than 28th was 2013.
5. 49ers: They added a nice multidimensional piece by signing Jerick McKinnon, but he has averaged only eight carries per game and needs help.
6. Browns: Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson might be a nifty tandem, but adding a player of Barkley’s caliber with one of those top-four picks would be a game changer for Cleveland’s offense.