For the second time in three years, we had an NFL Draft first round start and finish without a running back being selected. Back in 2022, the first RB off the board was Breece Hall early in the second round to the New York Jets. That pick has appeared to pan out despite Hall undergoing major knee surgery. Hall has nearly 1,500 rushing yards and nine TDs over the past two seasons in 24 games and just 18 starts. If we look back at that 2022 class, you’ll find a lot of quality backs — Rachaad White, James Cook, Isiah Pacheco, etc.
But why are GMs and coaches fine waiting into the later rounds to select a back? Is it because this class isn’t very good or is it because of how teams approach the position overall? The latter is likely true but if there are players who fit a scheme, why wouldn’t teams prioritize a position that sees so much usage each season? Is the demand for a RB just low in 2024? Let’s examine all these factors.
The class is being viewed as weak but we know players will emerge and be relevant, especially for fantasy football. Some of the top names this year at RB include Texas Longhorns’ Jonathan Brooks, Michigan’s Blake Corum and Florida State’s Trey Benson. All three backs went for over 1,000 all-purpose yards last season on top programs. We also should consider that the landscape of college football has evolved into more of a passing game centered around QBs, that sentiment ringing true after Thursday night’s first round. We saw teams reach left and right for mediocre QB prospects. The QB touches the ball plenty but so do running backs.
Corum enters the draft after one of the more lucrative four-year careers at Michigan. The National Champion back finished his career with 61 total TDs in 45 career games. A lot of people will credit the system in place with Jim Harbaugh. That system was run heavy and used by a now-NFL head coach. Normally, a RB with this type of production and decorated college career would be a first-rounder. Corum lacks elite size at 5-foot-8 but will likely land in a good situation and find success.
Kentucky’s Ray Davis, Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright and USC’s MarShawn Lloyd are a few other names to look out for at running back, either on Friday night or going into Saturday. Braelon Allen is a Wisconsin product, similar to Jonathan Taylor of the Colts. Allen has the type of size that coaches covet in a back and he might not be selected until Day 3. There’s just such a disrespect around football for the running back position, especially in the NFL. We’re seeing how elite backs are treated by GMs when they need a new contract. More are getting paid but it still feels like pulling teeth.
Let’s look at which teams are in need of a running back. We’re just going to rattle off a general list of teams who might be in the market for a back, whether to start or for depth.
Dallas Cowboys
Cincinnati Bengals
Los Angeles Chargers
Minnesota Vikings
New York Giants
Arizona Cardinals
It’s not a long list but there are a lot of teams you could justify taking a RB for in 2024. Injuries happen, players get old fast, you never really know when you’ll need a replacement back and a lot of teams lack depth. The Cowboys are the only team that doesn’t really have a starting RB at the moment. Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn would get the first crack if the season were to start now. So expect Dallas to go RB, possibly on Friday night.
The other teams on that list could use a RB, either someone to get playing time now or next season. James Conner is old. The Giants brought in Devin Singletary but could use some depth. The Vikings have Aaron Jones, but he’s up there in age as well. The Chargers brought in Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins but neither of those players instill much confidence. The Bengals have Chase Brown and Zack Moss, but again, things could go south quick. Even the Washington Commanders, who signed Austin Ekeler, could use another back. Ekeler may be close to retirement and there’s not much behind him.
So we should see a lot of these teams go and grab a back on Friday and Saturday. A lot of those teams in need of a RB went out and had bigger fish to fry on Thursday in the first round, adding talent at other positions. This is fine but when we look back and a playoff team snags one of these top backs and they pan out, will a RB-needy team regret not making a move earlier? We should see this play out at least with a few players. If 2022’s RB class taught us anything, there’s always gold at the position, even later in the draft.
