Running Backs Round 1 - 6

[HoneyB]

BUMPING THIS UP. IT'S DAY TWO. Tre Mason? DaVonta Freeman? Terrance West?

Below are some running back prospects through the 6th round.

The order of players is in accordance with CBS Sports. It has shifted over the past few weeks, but this is where it stands today. NFL.com has some players going higher. The comments I've typed in are consensus observations I've noted over the past couple of months from CBS, NFL, Kiper, Walter Football, SB Nation, ESPN Fantasy, USA today, LastWordOnSports, Russell Lande and Aaron Wilson.


2nd Round:
Photos are in order.

Carlos Hyde	6-0, 230lbs	Ohio State (Big 10)	Country strong, push the pile dominator. Good short yardage back. Option in passing game.
Bishop Sankey	5-10, 209 lbs	Washington (PAC12)	Instinctive, low to the ground hard runner, who can be used as a complimentary back in a zone scheme. Can pass-catch and pass block. Only average explosion. Misses cuts at times.
Tre Mason	5-10, 107lbs	Auburn (SEC)	Compares to Ray Rice. Stout runner, with compact build, low pad level. Has nose for the end zone. Mediocre running up the middle, but movement skills are elite, cutting and spinning. Gets YAC. Productive.
Jeremy Hill	6-1, 233lbs	LSU (SEC)	A better athlete than LeGarrette Blount. Powerful downhill runner who can burst through hole or easily skip to another. Effective receiver, long arms and soft hands. Lazy in pass protection. Comes from Pro-style running attack. Can handle a workload. .

3rd and 4th Rounds combined:
Photos are in order.

Andre Williams	5-11, 230lbs	Boston College (ACC)	Most punishing back in the draft, old school power back. At his best following blockers and between the tackles. No burst or vision, but can trample though defenders and get YAC. Has no receiving skills at all.
Terrance West	5-9, 230lbs	Towson (DIV IAA)	Private workout with Dolphins. Compares to Joique Bell or Alfred Morris. Lack of burst and speed on edge, but a chore to bring down, wears down defenses. Decisive one-cut runner tremendous in short yardage. Mentored by Bernard Pierce. Lots of tread on the tires (780 carries in 3 seasons).
Ka”Deem Carey	5-9, 207lbs	Arizona (PAC 12)	Compares to Ahmad Bradshaw or LeSean McCoy. Played against physical defenses. Great Burst and cutting ability, slashing back routinely picking up chunk yardage in zone offense. Not a thumper, but legit, can start. Good in pass-catching and pass protection. Good all-around back.

Lache Seastrunk	5-10, 201lbs	Baylor (Big 12)	Productive zone runner who took advantage of offense with huge running lanes, featuring fly sweeps and lateral runs. Fast and athletic, but concern if he can translate to the NFL and run between the tackles or have toughness.
Charles Sims	6-10, 214lbs	W.Virginia (Big 12)	Upright slasher. Can be playmaker in a zone offense. Polished receiver. Doesn’t display enough power for his size.
Devonta Freeman	5-8,206lbs	Florida State (ACC)	Was the Seminoles most consistent back in stable of tough runners. Lots of scouts like him may go higher. Very good burst through the hole. Small player shimmies through tight spots, makes difficult catches and is good in pass protection.
Jerick McKinnon	5-9, 209lbs	Georgia (DIV IAA)	Transitioned from QB to RB so may need to develop. Real burst out of backfield. Lead the bench press at the combine. Strength will help with YAC. Real sleeper back.

5th and 6th Rounds:
Photos are in order.

James White	5-9, 204lbs	Wisconsin (Big 10)	Dolphins worked him out. Likely never more than a change of pace back, undersized with short arms and small hands. Limited power. Shifty.
Storm Johnson	6-0, 209lbs	UCF (AAC)	Compares to Daniel Thomas (per NFL.com). Big runner with enough burst. Has fumbled and gets tripped up at times. Needs to improve in pass protection.
Isaiah Crowell	5-11, 224lbs	Alabama State (DIV IAA)	Legal troubles and character concerns. Hard runner, good vision and strength. Wanes late in games, can be unmotivated. Not interested in pass protecting.
De”Anthony Thomas	5-9, 174lbs	Oregon (PAC 12)	Luxury pick for a team, compares to Tavon Austin. Big time sprinter speed. Lacks size and strength. (NFL.com however, projects him as high as the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round.)

Tyler Gaffney	6-0, 220lbs	Stanford (PAC 12)	Split his time with baseball. Only average quickness to the hole, but grinds out tough yards and processes information quickly to display good vision and instincts. Good hands.
Rajion Neal	5-11, 220lbs	Tennessee (SEC)	Zone running back, average power and tackle breaking ability, no YAC. Can catch and block well.

There are other prospects that fall within these rounds, but for various reasons they didn't make CBS's top list of players. For example, Marion Grice, who may be the most advanced pass-catcher of all the backs, but a late season injury kept him out of the senior bowl, and he didn't do field work at the combine. May go as high as the 4th round.

In a perfect world, my pick is Carlos Hyde, but he would probably not be the best fit for our scheme, anyway. I'm hoping we can pick up one of these running backs so we can cut Daniel Thomas.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

I like McKinnon.

 

[HoneyB]

I like McKinnon.

Yes, he's going to be good. He may need some time though. Small school, doesn't have a lot of size, but he's got some real burst out of the backfield which is important when you're transitioning from college to the NFL, you have to hit that line fast. Great senior bowl., and flew through his tests at the combine. We'd definitely have a shot at him because rounds 4 and beyond I expect Hickey would consider a RB.

 

[LANGER72]

Carlos Hyde. Proven production from a big school. He would be our starting back from day #1

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Yes, he's going to be good. He may need some time though. Small school, doesn't have a lot of size, but he's got some real burst out of the backfield which is important when you're transitioning from college to the NFL, you have to hit that line fast. Great senior bowl., and flew through his tests at the combine. We'd definitely have a shot at him because rounds 4 and beyond I expect Hickey would consider a RB.

He reminds me a lot of MJD. He's a thickly built little guy, and he's a dynamic and powerful runner. He doesn't have a lot of experience in pass pro, but he's a very good lead blocker, and he has the strength to excel in pass pro. We have Moreno to do the dirty work while McKinnon picks up the nuances of the position, but he's a bright player and an elite athlete. I think he's a great gamble in the 4th or 5th.

---------- Post added at 03:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:54 PM ----------

Hill's the best RB in the draft, but Hyde is the top back of the 2nd tier. I'd be happy with either.

 

[JakeMcAwful]

I'll take Sims or West in the fourth and be very happy. I wonder how Hickey views the need at the position.. I'd say it needs to be addressed in some way in the draft.

 

[ozman]

I want west!!!

 

[HoneyB]

I'll take Sims or West in the fourth and be very happy. I wonder how Hickey views the need at the position.. I'd say it needs to be addressed in some way in the draft.

I do wonder about West, if the Dolphins are interested or not. Scouts are a little concerned about his lack of initial burst from the backfield, but he is well-built, kind of squat and thick, and is pretty shifty. Since the Dolphins seem to want to run by committee this may be an option for them.

 

[spiketex]

Terrance West attracted 22 teams to see his workout at Towson. He's a little 5'9", 230 lb truck and a huge load to bring down. Hard to evaluate his massive number of TDs against weaker competition, but the word is definitely out that he is a stud.

 

[SWS84]

Terrance West attracted 22 teams to see his workout at Towson. He's a little 5'9", 230 lb truck and a huge load to bring down. Hard to evaluate his massive number of TDs against weaker competition, but the word is definitely out that he is a stud.

I saw on the NFL channel where they said he is perfect for a ZBS. If we can actually manage that this year with our OL, West would be my guy. :-)

 

[fishbanger]

Tre Mason #1

J. Hill #2

K. Carey #3

Get one of these three.

 

[RkyDaMan34]

Hill hands down....

 

[spiketex]

Lots of good RBs will be available. Some are probably going to drop further than expected. I think that we will get one - maybe round 3 or 4.

 

[utahphinsfan]

I'm preferential to Sankey, West, & White.

 

[72champagne]

i don't know how anyone can evaluate the running backs from last year when we couldn't block anyone, plus we just added moreno. we much much bigger needs than rb or wr.