2022 NFL Draft Preview – Running Backs

March 18, 2022

By Steve Thomas

This week, we’re going to cover the draft-eligible running back group.  Washington’s running backs contingent currently looks like last year’s group, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need help.  Starter Antonio Gibson had a down year as compared to his rookie year.  Valuable pass-catcher J.D. McKissic changed his mind at the lastr second and abandoned the Buffalo Bills to return to Washington, which is a great benefit for the team.  The Redskins Commanders Washington also has 2020 undrafted free agent Jaret Patterson, who’s a nice prospect, plus practice squad holdover Jonathan Williams, new futures contract recipient Reggie Bonnafon and fullback Alex Armah.  Looking at that group, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Washington burned a draft pick on a running back.  In my view, whether Gibson will rise up to franchise back status is fairly uncertain.

The group does not have an elite, top of the draft prospect, or even a sure first round pick; that having been said, a number of quality candidates will be available, so let’s dive in.

Breece Hall, Iowa St, 5’11” / 217:  Hall played 36 games in three seasons with Iowa St., and rushed for a total of 3,941 yards on 718 carries, 5.5 yards per attempt, and 50 touchdowns, and also had 82 receptions for 734 yards, 9.0 yards per reception, and 6 touchdowns.  In 2021, he rushed for 1472 yards on 253 carries, 5.8 yards per attempt, and 20 touchdowns, and also had 36 receptions for 302 yards, 8.4 yards per reception, and 3 touchdowns.  Hall is a two-time All-American – he was a unanimous selection in 2020 and a consensus selection in 2021.  Hall did very well at the NFL Combine, running the 40 yard dash in 4.39 seconds, jumping 40 inches in the vertical leap and 10’6” in the standing broad jump.  He’s viewed as having more top-end speed than burst.  Hall has all the tools necessary to be an every down back in the NFL.  Also, he was a homerun hitter in college, with 5 runs of 75 of more yards.  Some analysts view him as being a better fit in a zone run scheme.  His principal downside is his collegiate workload – he’s already had more than 700 carries, which may not bode well for the future.

Draft projection: Projections are all over the place, with predictions anywhere from high round 2 to round 5.

Kenneth Walker III, Michigan St., 5’9” / 211:  Walker played 32 games in three collegiate seasons, 2019 and 2020 at Wake Forest and 2021 with Michigan St., gaining a total of 2794 yards on 480 carries, 5.8 yards per attempt, and 35 touchdowns, plus 19 receptions for 136 yards, 7.2 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown.  In 2021 at Michigan St., he gained 1636 yards on 263 carries, 6.2 yards per carry, 18 touchdowns, and 13 receptions for 89 yards, 6.8 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown.  Hall was selected as a Unanimous All-American in 2021, and won both the Walter Camp Award and the Doak Walker Award.  At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.38 seconds, jumped 34 inches in the vertical leap and 10’2” in the standing broad jump.  Walker isn’t enough of a pass-catching threat to reliably serve as a three down back in the NFL, but scouts view him as a potential RB1.

Draft projection: Round 2

Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M, 6’0” / 217:  Spiller spent three years with the Aggies, playing a total of 35 games, with 541 carries for 2993 yards, 5.5 yards per carry, and 25 touchdowns, plus 74 receptions for 585 yards, 7.9 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown.  In 2021, he gained 1011 yards on 179 carries, 5.6 yards per carry, and 6 touchdowns, plus 25 receptions for 189 yards, 7.6 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown.  Spiller was a First Team All-SEC selection in 2020, and a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2021.  He didn’t run the 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine, reportedly due to an abdominal injury, but he’s rumored to run in the 4.6 second range.  He jumped 30 inches in the vertical leap and 9’6” in the standing broad jump.  Spiller is viewed as having the skills and vision to become a potential three-down power back in the NFL despite his lack of top-end speed; however, he’d probably not be the best choice on obvious passing downs.

Draft projection: rounds 2 – 4

Zamir White, Georgia, 6’0” / 214: White is a true senior, having redshirted his true freshman year to recover from his second torn ACL.  In total, he played 37 games in 2019, 2020, and 2021, with 382 carries for 2043 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 25 touchdowns, plus 17 receptions for 132 yards, and 7.8 yards per reception.  In 2021, Spiller gained 856 yards on 1620 carries for 5.4 yards per carry, and 11 touchdowns, plus 9 receptions for 75 yards and 8.3 yards per attempt.  At the NFL Combine, White ran the 40 yard dash in 4.4 seconds, and jump 33.5 inches in the vertical leap and 10’8” feet in the standing broad jump.  He’s viewed by most as a prototypical a power back in the NFL, possibly better suited to a zone scheme.  One of White’s major downsides is his injury history.

Draft projection: rounds 3 – 4

James Cook, Georgia, 5’11” / 199:  Cook spent 4 years with the Bulldogs, playing in a total of 46 games between 2018 and 2021, gaining 1503 yards on 230 carries for 6.5 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns, plus 67 receptions for 730 yards, 10.9 yards per reception and 6 touchdowns.  In 2021, he had 113 carries for 728 yards, 6.4 yards per carry, and 7 touchdowns, plus 27 receptions for 284 yards, 10.5 yards per reception, and 4 touchdowns.  At the NFL Combine, Cook ran the 40 yard dash in 4.42 seconds, and jumped 33 inches in the vertical leap and 10’4” feet in the standing broad jump.  Cook is NFL running back Dalvin Cook’s younger brother who shares his brother’s athleticism, vision, and cutting ability but not his build.  Most scouts view James Cook as a third down back, change of pace runner, and receiver.  Cook may be the best pass-catching running back in this year’s draft class.  He’s not known as a blocker.

Draft projection: round 3

Brian Robinson, Alabama, 6’2” / 225:  Robinson played a full 5 seasons at Alabama, playing in a total of 55 games, and gained 2704 yards on 545 carries, 5.0 yards per carry, and 29 touchdowns, and 52 receptions for 446 yards, 8.6 yards per reception, and 2 touchdowns.  In 2021, Robinson had 271 carries for 1343 yards, 5.0 yards per carry, and 14 touchdowns, and 35 receptions for 296 yards, 8.5 yards per reception, and 2 touchdowns.  Robinson earned First Team All-SEC honors in 2021.  At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.53 seconds, and jumped 30 inches in the vertical leap and 9’11” feet in the standing broad jump.  Robinson was down Alabama’s impressive depth chart until this past year, so 2021 was his first and only season with more than 100 carries.  He’s known as a one-cut power runner who has more top-end speed then he does burst.  Robinson is viewed by most as an interior back who runs hard and can get tough yards.  He’s not an elite athlete.

Draft projection: round 5

Tyler Badie, Missouri, 5’8” / 197:  Badie played 4 seasons at Missouri, with 513 carries for 2740 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 23 touchdowns, plus 126 receptions for 1149 yards, 9.1 yards per reception, and 11 touchdowns.  Badie earned Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC honors in 2021.  At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.45 seconds and jumped 33.5 inches in the vertical leap and 10’1” feet in the standing broad jump.  Badie is known as someone with great burst.  Scouts view him as a change of pace, third down back in the NFL.  Badie isn’t viewed as a tough interior runner.

Draft projection: round 5

Dameon Pierce, Florida, 5’10” / 218:  Pierce played in 48 games in 4 seasons at the University of Florida, gaining 1806 yards on 329 carries, 5.5 yards per carry, and 23 touchdowns, and 45 receptions for 422 yards, 9.4 yards per reception, and 5 touchdowns.  In 2021, he had 100 carries, 574 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, and 13 touchdowns, plus 19 receptions, 216 receiving yards, 11.4 yards per reception, and 3 touchdowns.  At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.59 seconds, did 21 bench press reps, and jumped 34.5 inches in the vertical leap and 9’11” in the standing broad jump.  Pierce is known as a solid all-around runner with good vision and cutting ability.  He’s not viewed as having tremendous burst.

Draft projection: rounds 3 to 5

Jerome Ford, Cincinnati, 5’10” / 210:  Ford played four collegiate seasons, including his freshman and sophomore seasons at Alabama, and his junior and senior years at the University of Cincinnati.  He played a total of 31 games, with 1953 yards in 319 carries, 6.1 yards per carry, and 30 touchdowns, plus an additional 31 receptions for 282 yards, 9.1 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown.  In 2021, Ford rushed for 1319 yards in 215 carries, 6.1 yards per carry, 19 touchdowns, and 21 receptions for 220 yards, 10.5 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown, and earned First Team All-AAC honors.  At the NFL Combine, Ford ran the 40 yard dash in 4.46 seconds, and jumped 31 inches in the vertical leap and9’10” in the standing broad jump.  Ford is viewed by scouts as having good vision, lateral agility, and power.  Analysts believe that his most likely destiny is as a change-of-pace and third down back.  Ford also has good blocking ability.  He’s known to have ball security issues.

Draft projection: round 4

D’Vonte Price, Florida International, 6’1” / 210:  Price played a total of 46 games in five seasons at Florida International, gaining 2203 yards in 369 carries, 6.0 yards per carry, 15 touchdowns, and 45 receptions for 307 yards, 6.8 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown.  In 2021, he played 9 games and had 129 carries for 682 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 6 touchdowns, plus 10 receptions for 83 yards, and 8.3 yards per carry.  At the NFL Combine, Price ran the 40 yard dash in 4.38 seconds and jumped 34 inches in the vertical leap and 9’11” in the standing broad jump.  Scouts view Price has having good vision, size, and strength, but also as inconsistent and someone who runs with an upright style that doesn’t serve him well.  He’s not known as a pass blocker.

Draft projection: round 6

Abram Smith, Baylor, 6’0” / 213:  Smith played 29 games in five seasons at Baylor, with 269 carries for 1647 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 13 touchdowns, as well as 14 receptions for 78 yards, and 5.6 yards per reception.  In 2021, he played 14 games, gaining 1601 yards in 257 carries, 6.2 yards per carry, and 12 touchdowns, and 13 receptions for 75 yards, and 5.8 yards per receptions.  He earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors in 2021.  Smith was took a medical redshirt in 2017.  He transitioned to linebacker in 2020, but moved back to running back for the 2021 season.  As a result, he only played one full season as a starting running back.  He did not participate in measurement drills at the NFL Combine.  He’s viewed as a one-cut runner best suited for a zone scheme.

Draft projection: rounds 5 – 7