A look at the promising prospects available at running back.
Good ball carriers abound in this draft
After dipping their feet in the free-agent market, C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman received enough interest and love from the Broncos to pair up again in the backfield.
This time, however, Anderson expects to be the bell cow with Hillman as the No. 2 back instead of the 1A-1B treatment they received last season. Their contracts dictate as much.
A late-season surge from Anderson and the Broncos’ run game makes it easy to forget their early season struggles. Having their top four running backs from last season — Anderson, Hillman, Juwan Thompson and Kapri Bibbs — return won’t prevent the Broncos from selecting a running back in the draft this week.
Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott is the best one in this draft. He’s an immediate starter and a three-down player from Day One of training camp. He’s expected to be taken somewhere in the first 15 picks.
More than likely, the Broncos won’t get into the running back market until the middle to late rounds, where there will still be gems available.
Utah’s Devontae Booker, Notre Dame’s C.J. Prosise and UCLA’s Paul Perkins all would fit well in Broncos coach Gary Kubiak’s zone scheme and should be available in round 2 or 3.
Booker probably is the second-best three-down back in the draft, behind Elliott. He’s not a speedster or a pure power guy, but he has a good mix of all the skills NFL backs need.
Prosise has better patience and vision as a runner than most of the backs in this draft, and he began to learn the position in the spring of 2015 when he made the full-time switch from receiver to tailback.
Perkins, who is more of a finesse back, has the best moves of any back in the draft. He has great vision, but durability and pass protection are question marks.
Booker, whom the Broncos brought in for a predraft visit, probably will be selected higher than Perkins and Prosise because of his three-down skill set and experience.
The Broncos also brought in Alabama’s Kenyan Drake and California’s Daniel Lasco for predraft visits.
Drake is an explosive talent, always a threat to make a big play, but battled injuries throughout his college career. Lasco is a power back who played in the shadow of California quarterback Jared Goff and also struggled with injuries. Drake likely is a late day-two pick. Lasco is expected to go early on day three.
Other third-day options for the Broncos include San Jose State’s Tyler Ervin, Navy’s Keenan Reynolds, Georgia’s Keith Marshall, Illinois State’s Marshaun Coprich and West Virginia’s Wendell Smallwood, all of whom display the skills to be a change-of-pace back and immediate specialteams contributors.
Kubiak said the Broncos likely will have a fullback on the roster this season. Late-round options there include Wisconsin’s Derek Watt, Northwestern’s Dan Vitale and Kansas State’s Glenn Gronkowski.