2022 NFL Draft: RB Rankings

1

Strengths

When watching his tape, you find out quickly just how shifty Walker is. He can stop on a dime and reverse the play. His ability to change directions is outstanding. Me makes good use of these traits both in a phone booth and in space. Walker also has the speed to pair with the fancy stuff. He can easily beat you around the edge to the outside, and has the ability to draw off when the defence lets him get to the second level. Walker is still coming along in this area, but he has potential as a receiver. His hands don’t look perfectly natural, but he wasn’t usually featured much as a receiver. However, his ability in space makes him a big threat as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He has solid size and a decent amount of strength. I wouldn’t say runs up the middle should be his calling card, but he is certainly capable and can be quite effective in this role with some more development. He has shown the ability to bounce off contact, especially in big clusters, where he is able to escape into the open field. Walker has also shown to be capable in pass protection. There are some kinks to clean up, but he had some very solid reps. As a whole, ball security was not an issue. Only two fumbles throughout his career, with only one lost.

Weaknesses

While he has the ability to be effective up the middle, he isn’t quite there yet. And it has nothing to do with size, but rather, vision. He doesn’t always have the patience necessary to let the play develop in front of him, and can be much too quick to bounce it outside. He oozes potential as a pass catcher, but can still get better in this area. As well, he has a few kinks to iron out in pass protection – he isn’t far off though. 

2

Strengths

When watching his tape, elusiveness is what really stands out with Hall. He is a quick, decisive runner with very good vision. Hall is able to stay patient as the play develops before identifying the correct hole to hit. His ability to make people miss in the open field is outstanding. He utilises juke moves and head fakes to throw off the defender, and he doesn’t lose much, if any momentum. That ability to stop on a dime and change directions is also there. He was a big play threat in college, popping off for several runs of over 20 yards. Hall shows soft hands when used as a receiver. His ability in space makes him a nice weapon out of the backfield and gives him three down potential.

Weaknesses

Hall seems to have a slighter frame. As a runner, he doesn’t play with a lot of power. While his quickness and vision allow him to have success running up the gut, he is not someone that will win with pure strength, and bigger DT’s will sometimes swallow him up. Size also affects his ability to break tackles. His speed isn’t bad, but it doesn’t really look elite on tape. He did run below a 4.4 at the combine, however. That said, on tape, there were a few times where he couldn’t quite break away. Given his other strengths, this isn’t a huge concern, but if we are talking about him as a top RB in this class, it is worth mentioning. Hall can have some struggles as a pass blocker. Rushers have a clear size advantage, but there were also times where they were able to go around him without very much contact. Over the past couple seasons, he had a few fumbles. He perhaps could adjust the way he holds the ball in certain situations to limit the risk of a fumble.

3

Strengths

Chandler is a versatile back with physical traits to become a good starter for whoever he ends up with. His speed is quite good and he showed on multiple occasions that he can draw off in a footrace. With his speed, he pairs shiftiness and quick feet. He is sudden with his cuts and is able to shift the direction of the play rather easily. He can make those subtle moves to make people miss while keeping his momentum, but he is also able to stutter his way out of trouble. I wouldn’t say power is at all the name of his game, but he has a well bilt frame and can be effective downhill. Chandler is excellent as a receiver. He displays soft hands and is a natural and smooth route runner. He is able to make the catch without losing momentum built up from the start of his route. 

Weaknesses

Vision isn’t bad, in fact, he shows plenty of nice flashes of ability in this regard. However, there can be some inconsistencies. Instances show up where he is either indecisive or just picks the wrong lane. I don’t think it is a major concern, though. Strength is good, not great. Won’t get overpowered, but doesn’t often overpower anyone either. Shows ability in pass protection, but will need coaching to bring his development further along. 

4

Strengths

Spiller is a back with some size. He is a good runner between the tackles, showing ability to win with strength and power. He also is a very good one cut runner, planting his foot into the ground and changing directions. After making his guy miss, Spiller shows good burst in the short area to further pick up a nice chunk of yards. I wouldn’t say receiving is his calling card, but he has ability out of the backfield. Enough for him to end up being a three down back. He has also shown ability as a pass blocker, whether blocking someone directly or chipping before getting out into a route. Putting his receiving and blocking abilities together, a coach should have no problem leaving him out there on 3rd downs. 

Weaknesses

Spiller can be dynamic as a runner, but that is through quickness and burst in short areas, as opposed to speed. His speed isn’t bad, but there are some question marks about his ability to truly break away. Additionally, he isn’t the biggest threat on runs to the outside. His ability as a receiver, in a sense, can be looked at the same way. Good, but not at that top level. Spiller flashes good vision at times, but being more decisive would help limit losses. There were some times where making one too many moves ended up costing him a solid gain and potentially more. Ball protection issues crept in at times. Moreso earlier on, but still worth mentioning. He is someone who likes to fight for extra yards. Some like that, but it opens up the risk of fumbling, which he did do from time to time.

5

Strengths

Robinson is a massive back that runs like a fridge with legs. He is tough to bring down once he begins picking up steam. His big frame and tough running style naturally makes him an asset on runs up the gut and in short yardage situations. Robinson also has good vision to pick the right lane, and is capable of bouncing things outside. He has a few instances of some double clutches, but generally is good as a receiver out of the backfield. Robinson makes up for average speed with a no nonsense, north/south style. He takes the grass in front of him instead of overthinking and making too many moves. His size and strength are assets as a pass protector. This combined with his receiving ability should allow him to be a three down back. 

Weaknesses

Robinson only has average speed. While he does a lot to mitigate this, he still isn’t a consistent homerun threat. He is more of a one speed runner and isn’t really able to hit that next gear once he makes it into the secondary. Robinson is a good run cut runner but, beyond simple jump cuts, is not very elusive. If he is cornered, he is forced to lower his shoulder and take whatever else he can get. He won’t create much out of nothing.

6

Strengths

Badie is a smaller back, but has a compact build. While power running isn’t his forte, his build will allow him to handle a share of those duties. Badie makes his money on outside runs and in the passing game. He has good speed and enough quickness to manoeuvre his way up the field. Generally speaking, he has soft hands and is capable of being used in various ways as a pass catcher. He is a threat out of the backfield and has experience out wide and in the slot. His build allows him to add an element of toughness to his game that other backs with a similar game cannot. He can handle some contact and has an underrated stiff arm. In the open field, he can juke his way around defenders, or out of a tight area, and his speed allows him to then draw off. 

Weaknesses

While he has a strong enough build to handle some carries through the trenches, size limitations still make you wonder if he can handle a full workload at the next level. His quickness is an asset, but there are times where his cuts look a bit choppy, lacking that fluidity that backs with this playing style possess. As a runner, there are sometimes some lapses in his vision. There were a few instances where he ran himself into a brick wall, rushing into his decision as opposed to noticing open space to the outside. As a receiver, there isn’t too much to worry about, but he did have the odd drop that is worth mentioning.

7

Strengths

White is effective on both runs to the outside and inside. He isn’t the fastest guy, but he has good vision and is able to patiently wait for lanes to develop in front of him. He identifies his running lane quickly and has enough burst to slip through. His quickness is underrated. He isn’t so much a juke you out kind of guy, but his moves are more subtle. He is smooth when making his cuts and he can end up behind you if you’re not careful. He’s got a solid build. I wouldn’t say he plays with a ton of power, but he is good up the gut. The patience again comes into play, and he also has enough strength to force his way through, when need be. White does very well as a pass catcher. He is a natura route runner and, likewise, is a natural when catching the ball. He doesn’t have to break stride to look the ball into his hands, instead keeping up his momentum to maximise his yardage on the play.

Weaknesses

White is a solid all around player. I love his quickness, but he doesn’t overly impress with either speed or power. Speed is alright, but he is not someone that will win a lot of foot races at the next level. As far as strength goes, tacklers are able to keep him wrapped up much of the time. As well, he isn’t someone who will run you over when fed the ball up the gut. White had some fumbling issues that he’ll have to clean up, and can also improve in pass protection.

8

Strengths

White is a big back with a bruising style of play. He is the kind of player that you can lean on late in games to wear down the opposing defence. White is at his best running up the gut, not only because of the tremendous amount of power that he plays with, but also because of his outstanding vision. He isn’t the shiftiest player, but he has a good jump cut, which he uses well in those tight spaces to evade tacklers. He has the vision to quickly identify the best lane, and he wastes no time bursting through it. With his tough playing style, fighting for extra yards is something that he will do. Fumbles are a risk, but he only had one in his career, which is quite impressive.

Weaknesses

White is a big powerful runner, but the size comes at the expense of athleticism. While he isn’t slow, he doesn’t have that top speed to breakaway on runs once he gets to the next level. He is much better suited running up the gut than to the outside, as he won’t win many races to the boundary. Blocking becomes far more crucial on outside runs. Creativity isn’t a big part of his game. While he has that one cut ability, he isn’t super shifty, and won’t often juke people out once he gets into space. White is someone who you would probably prefer to have in a rotation with a receiving back. White can do the minimum in this area, but isn’t very dynamic and isn’t a huge threat out of the backfield. Further, his struggles as a blocker, despite his size, will make it tough to keep him out there on 3rd downs. White has an injury history that will be concerning for teams, as he has suffered a torn ACL in each team. Needless to say, longevity is a concern, especially considering his playing style.

9

Strengths

Cook is an uber athletic back. He makes his money when he is able to wind up with the ball in his hands in space. He has quick feet and is able to easily change directions. Ability to very subtly make people miss is impressive. He also has the long speed to draw off. This combined with his outstanding quickness make him a homerun threat on every play. These athletic traits translate directly to receiving skills. Cook is a very smooth route runner and has soft enough hands to be a big time contributor in this regard. He is someone that can be used often out of the backfield. This setting plays right to his strength of playing in space. Touches have been relatively limited for Cook, but in those touches, he has demonstrated good ball security, for the most part.

Weaknesses

The athletic traits are outstanding, but Cook is lacking the beef to be an every down player. He isn’t super effective between the tackles, and defensive linemen are able to swallow him up. Durability is a bit of a concern, given his slight frame, and he did have some injuries, despite the limited usage. He is someone that will likely have to come off the field in some red zone situations and on short yardage plays. Unsurprisingly, he isn’t a big asset as a pass protector. This may give coaches some second thoughts about keeping him in on obvious passing downs. 

10

Strengths

Of the backs in this class, Ford probably has the best combination of power and athleticism. As a bigger back, the power isn’t surprising. He has a tough, rugged way of running. Careless defenders will end up on their back after squaring up with him. Unlike many other RB’s of this mould, Ford has athleticism that, combined with his toughness, takes the upside up a notch. He has very good speed and can win footraces against pursuing defenders. Quickness is also on the plus side. He can make single cuts to keep his momentum, but jukes in tighter areas are not beyond his capabilities. 

Weaknesses

The physical attributes are great, but at this point, I would say the Ford still has a ways to go before being a finished product. His ability to correctly identify the best running lane is one that still needs a lot of development, and the hope is that this happens with more experience. At Cincinnati, he wasn’t used extensively in the passing game, so some time for growth will also be needed in this area. As far as pass protection goes, the flashes are there, and he has the size to be successful. Just needs to be a bit more consistent.

11

Strengths

Williams is a Swiss army knife, of sorts. He was used in a variety of ways, including runs to the outside, runs to the inside, and in different ways as a pass catcher. As a runner, his shitiness is what stands out. He is able to make people miss in short areas and can buy himself some running room using subtle moves. His ability to make one cut and go helps him on runs to the outside. He is generally decisive and this makes up for some other deficiencies. Williams makes a lot of his money as a pass catcher. He is sure handed and can make plays out of the backfield. His coaches also had him lineup out of the slot, where he was also able to make his mark in games. Despite not being the biggest guy, Williams shows willingness in pass protection and has been effective more often than not in this regard.

Weaknesses

Williams is a high floor, low ceiling prospect. He does a bit of everything, and is solid all around, but I don’t see that one elite trait that separates him from the rest. He is a quick player, but lacks the speed that can truly take his game to that next level. While he is decent between the tackles, he doesn’t have the size to consistently be a difference maker. Another knock on him is that he had some fumbling issues at Notre Dame.

12

Strengths

Davis-Price is an intriguing prospect. He possesses a unique blend of athleticism, size, strength, and grit. Athletically, he has solid speed while also showing to be agile enough to be effective in the open field. He is a good route runner and LSU used him all over the formation. He also has a big frame that can be used on inside runs. His grittiness is an asset on these kinds of plays, and there were instances of him bringing a defender with him for a good few yards before eventually slipping out of the tackle. His versatility as a runner and a pass catcher give him a shot at becoming a three down back at the next level.

Weaknesses

While the tools are impressive, he is still quite raw. Vision isn’t quite there yet, and there are still times where he runs himself right into defenders. He lacks patience on these plays, being too quick to plough forward. His value as a pass catcher sometimes gets negated by drops. He will have to clean that up in order for coaches to trust him in key situations. Ball security is also an issue that he will have to fix, as he did have a few fumbling issues. 

13

Strengths

Verdell is a smaller player, but is compact for his size. He is able to absorb contact surprisingly well. His athleticism is his calling card. He has the speed to beat defenders to the edge, and he can turn up the sideline for big gains. He is shifty and can make people miss in space. Verdell has soft hands and is an asset in the passing game. Whether out of the backfield or from somewhere else in the formation, he is able to make plays. Despite his size, his willingness in pass protection was nice to see.

Weaknesses

Size is the issue with Verdell. He does a solid job of mitigating the issues that come with his size, but there is only so much you can do. Inside runs are something he can handle, but will probably be better if that number is kept in check. Production was nice, but he got a lot of easy yards. The scheme at Oregon seemed to set things up nicely for him to get into space as much as possible. While he had decent moments in pass protection, I don’t know how well it will translate to the NFL. This, again, comes back to his size. We’ve seen smaller backs, like Giovani Bernard, do well in pass protection in the NFL, but I don’t think it is something you can count on from smaller guys coming out of college. If they end up doing well, it serves as a nice bonus.

14

Strengths

Pierce is a bigger back with a north/south playing style. He is at his best running between the tackles where he lets his power do the talking. Pierce has good vision in tight spaces and can be deceptively quick in a phonebooth. He waits patiently for lanes to open up and is able to side step incoming tackles. Pierce uses his big frame to his advantage when asked to help out in pass protection. While not the quickest player, he has been successful bouncing the play outside when he finds room to do so. Pierce bounces off contact well and is able to add some extra yards at the end of plays. He has a good track record in terms of ball protection. Light usage may have played a part in this, but nevertheless, he usually does everything right to keep the ball secure.

Weaknesses

Overall, Pierce is more on the one dimensional side. While he has fine hands, his route running isn’t anything special. I only see basic upside as a receiver. Further, athletic traits are about average. Speed is decent but I don’t see him as a homerun threat. As for quickness, he does some things well in tight areas, but he isn’t the biggest open field threat. He can be a bit stiff as a runner, especially when changing directions. 

15

Strengths

Ealy is a smaller, shiftier back that is at his best in space. Quickness and shiftiness are visible when he has the ball in his hands. He has the ability to make people miss in both tight and open spaces. Has some success using a jump cut when running up the middle. He generally has good decisiveness and can distinguish when to shoot into a gap and when to wait for things to further develop. He does well as a pass catcher. His ability in space is an asset here. Ealy has soft hands and can line up all over.

Weaknesses

Undersized and, while he does have a solid mass, it is not enough to carry the bulk of a workload consistently. For a smaller back, his speed is underwhelming. Initial burst isn’t bad, but he doesn’t have the next gear when he gets to the second level of the field. Shows some willingness in pass protection, but size will likely limit him in this area.

16

Strengths

Haskins is a straight line downhill player. He brings great size and a bruising style to the table. He runs hard and makes sure to deliver a punishing blow to anyone who attempts to bring him down. Haskins knows his limitations, and it shows in his no nonsense way of carrying the ball. He puts his head down and takes the grass that is in front of him, instead of getting gretty by stuttering too much. Haskins has experience being lined up in different places around the formation. He has a solid set of mitts and is a decent contributor in the passing game. For a bigger guy, he’s got some twitch to him. I wouldn’t say this is evident every time he touches the ball, but it definitely helps him out in the passing game. With his size and strength, he is an asset in pass protection.

Weaknesses

Haskins is twitchier than a lot of players of his size, but probably still would be considered limited as an athlete. While he can move a little in space, his burst is average and I don’t see a ton of breakaway speed. Further, his running style is very plain and his jump cut can be hit or miss. Vision is also something that is still improving. I guess you could tie it in with the comment on his jump cuts. He just needs to be more consistent in picking the right lane, and diversifying his running style would also help.

17

Strengths

Smith is a big, downhill back. He is best utilised between the tackles where he can power his way through. While he isn’t the shiftiest guy, he’s got a solid jump cut and is able to put his foot in the ground to avoid the initial tackler. Speed is modest, but he shows some burst as he gets to the next level. With his big frame, Smith is an asset as a pass protector. He also has experience playing special teams, which will be helpful for him if he is battling for a depth spot. 

Weaknesses

Smith is big and powerful, but that largely comes at the expense of athleticism. He is a one speed runner, and isn’t really able to shift into that next gear when he needs to draw off from defenders. Change of direction skills are modest at best and he won’t make many people miss in the open field. He has flashes where his vision looks good, but there are times where he runs himself right into a defender. Smith doesn’t offer a ton as a receiver. His profile just doesn’t check the boxes. He is not the type of athlete that can consistently excel as a route runner, and his hands are only okay. 

18

Strengths

Strong is on the bigger, more compact side for a RB. The way he carries the ball fits that bill. He brings a north/south, downhill running style. Strong can be deceptively fast. He bursts into running lanes and is capable of drawing off if he makes it into the open field. Strong shows willingness in pass protection and his frame should make him an asset in this area. He does have a few kinks to iron out, but nothing major. High motor guy that doesn’t often go less than 100%.

Weaknesses

For a bigger back, he doesn’t always play to his size. There are instances where LB’s are able to bring him down close to the line of scrimmage, and rather easily. And this is against lesser competition. Strong doesn’t bring a lot of shiftiness to the table and won’t make many miss in the open field. He is closer to the one dimensional side as a runner. Strong doesn’t offer much as a pass catcher. He is capable of running basic routes, but doesn’t have the fluidity to be a consistent route runner. Further, there are times where he looks uncomfortable catching the ball. Put up good production but had a lot of runs that opened up quite nicely for him. 

19

Strengths

Harris is a big, downhill back that is at his best when used on inside runs. He possesses solid vision and has the strength to plough through big interior linemen. Harris does well to lower his shoulder to fight through contact and his ability to run through arm tackles helps him pick up more yards than he should on some plays. Despite his running style, one that invites a lot of contact, he has a good track record in regard to fumbles. He uses good technique when protecting the ball, limiting the risk of fumbling, despite taking on contact. 

Weaknesses

Athleticism is limited and he isn’t as effective when used outside of his downhill style. He doesn’t have the speed to consistently be effective on running plays to the outside and he doesn’t have the quickness to make people miss in the open field. When he finds himself in space, he often reverts to lowering his shoulder to take what he can get. He isn’t a homerun hitter. Harris wasn’t used a ton in the passing game, but still had too many drops. He doesn’t have the athletic profile to succeed consistently as a route runner, and is limited to his one dimensional style. At the next level, he is best suited as a two down back.

20

Strengths

Big downhill running back. Allgeier has a very dense frame and has shown to be a pain for defenders to bring down. He is an asset in short yardage situations and isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder and absorb contact. He shows solid vision and is capable of being decisive at the line. With his size, there is potential in pass protection, with some development.

Weaknesses

Athletic traits are average at best, but probably below average. Allgeier doesn’t really impress with speed and defenders are able to keep up with him in the open field, and catch up to make the tackle if he does manage to get behind. Shows very little in terms of quickness, and won’t make many miss in the open field. Usually has to revert to lowering the shoulder, regardless of how tight the area is. Allgeier doesn’t offer a ton in the passing game beyond basic routes to the flats. For a bigger guy, he underwhelmed in pass protection. But he has plenty of room to get better in that area.