2023 NFL Draft: RB Rankings:
1
Bijan Robinson
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 215 lbs
Strengths:
Robinson is one of the top players in this draft class. His all around skillset not only will allow him to be a three down back at the next level, but very possibly emerge as a top 5 back in the league. While his speed is good, his shiftiness and elusiveness that stands out the most. The way he is able to cut on a dime really allows him to make people miss, both in a phone booth and in the open field. Robinson is patient behind the line, and then has this sudden burst of explosiveness as he hits the hole. He is someone that can get into the secondary often. With his elusiveness, Robinson is able to create for himself. Though the offensive line will always be a critical part of a rushing attack, he isn’t someone who should be dependent on great blocking all the time. Robinson is a great athlete, but also brings an element of size and power to his game. He isn’t just an outside runner. He is more than able to run between the tackles, and lower his shoulder to take on contact. Robinson is someone who can be counted on in short yardage/goalline situations. As a receiver, he is also very dynamic. His route running is outstanding, and the route tree is diverse. You can line him up all over and have success doing it. The passing game is a great way to manufacture touches and get him into the open field. He has made some outstanding plays as a pass catcher. The body control he shows on some catches is unbelievable, as he rotates in the air to adjust to the pass. Robinson has shown that he can be effective in pass protection. Not only does he have ability, but he is willing. An important element that coaches look for in a three down back.
Weaknesses:
No prospect is without weaknesses, but for one of this calibre, most of them could be considered nitpicking. So here I go. Robinson has good speed, but on tape, it doesn’t quite look to be in that elite category. As a runner, he can be a bit upright at times, giving tacklers a bigger target. As a receiver, you see him make some body catches from time to time. Probably the biggest thing I noticed, which still isn’t a huge issue, was a tendency to get a bit greedy at times. Robinson likes to go for the big play. However, going for the homerun isn’t always the right decision, and he was sometimes left striking out, when he had the chance for a single or even a double. Just taking what you’re given is necessary sometimes.
Summary:
Robinson is an elite three down back at the next level. He has good speed, great quickness, and the ability to evade tackles and make it look easy. Robinson can run to the outside, up the middle, catch passes, and perform in pass protection. He does it all. When watching him, I get some LeShaun McCoy vibes in terms of his style. It will be interesting to see where he gets drafted. Robinson is a top talent in this draft, but with the declining value of the RB position, it is possible that he falls deeper into the 1st round.
| Grade: 91.2 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Jahmir Gibbs
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
Gibbs is one of the top backs in this draft, thanks largely to outstanding athletic traits. He is a speedy player, with the ability to turn the corner on outside runs, and draw off when in the open field. Gibbs pairs up his speed with outstanding quickness and lateral movement skills. He cuts on dime and can reverse the play when his initial lane has closed up. Though not his very best trait, Gibbs is able to play with some power, and can be trusted to handle between the tackles runs and short yardage carries. Gibbs is a good receiver, and is someone who can be moved around the formation. His ability to make plays out of the backfield is eye-catching, especially when he makes someone miss in the open field, and is off to the races. Gibbs can also line up out wide or in the slot, with success. He is a good route runner, and with his athleticism, separation isn’t hard to create. As a ball carrier, he shows good patience behind the line, and picks the right time to burst through his running lane. Gibbs has three down potential at the next level.
Weaknesses:
The biggest issue with Gibbs may come in pass protection. He is pretty inexperienced in this category, and didn’t look good in a lot of his opportunities. An inability to pass block may cause teams to be cautious about having him out there on passing downs, which would be a shame, given his ability as a pass catcher. Speaking of catching passes, I did notice a couple of drops on tape. Nothing too concerning, but I thought I’d mention them. Gibbs plays with some power, but he isn’t the biggest back you’ll see. His frame is a little lean, but it’s not actually something I am too concerned about. NFL teams may feel differently, however.
Summary:
Gibbs is an electrifying player with the ability to pick up chunk yardage on a play to play basis. His dynamic speed and quickness allow for frequent missed tackles, and make him a threat as a runner and passer. As he transitions to the next level, adding a little bulk shouldn’t hurt him. But the main thing is improving in pass protection, in order to maximize value and production. Gibbs has three down potential, and showing improvement as a pass protector can help him reach that status faster. Thanks to his traits, he should be among the first two or three RB’s taken.
| Grade: 87.9 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
Tyjae Spears
School: Tulane
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 201 lbs
Strengths:
Spears is such a slippery, elusive back. He is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. You can see the urgency he has right away as he tries to get up the field. But with this urgency, he does well to not sacrifice vision. He processes things at the line quite well, and can prick the right lanes and make the appropriate cuts. Spears has tremendous speed and acceleration, both to hit the hole before it closes up, and to draw off in the open field. He isn’t the most powerful player, but Spears is able to pick up a lot of yards after contact because he can just slip out of and away from tackles. As well, his wiggle and twitchiness makes him extremely tough to bring down in space. Spears is capable as a receiver. His routes are generally pretty good and he can be deadly when he gets the ball in space. He isn’t the biggest guy, but he showed some potential in pass protection. Especially at the Senior Bowl.
Weaknesses:
Spears has decent bulk for a smaller guy and can manage with inside runs. However, he doesn’t play with a ton of power, and running between the tackles won’t always be easy for him when beefy DT’s are able to eat up a lot of space. I wouldn’t say he gets overpowered, but he doesn’t create much, either. Though, to his credit, he is willing to lower the shoulder. Spears could be a bit better taking care of the football. Making sure that the ball is tucked away will help prevent fumbles. He has a lot of ability as a receiver, but at times, seems to fight the football a little bit at the catch point. It wasn’t a glaring issue, but did catch my eye. Due to his lack of size, pass protection question marks may persist at the next level, despite some promise that he has shown.
Summary:
Spears has a tremendous skill set, and despite size concerns, should be able to handle the load of a three down back. Runs between the tackles won’t be his calling card, but he is capable. On runs to the outside, Spears shows a lot of elusiveness to evade tackles, and he also does well to slip out of them when initially wrapped up. He can work on his ball protection and skills as a pass catcher, but overall, I don’t see any major issues with his game. The size will limit him a little, but in the right system, he can thrive. Spears is a playmaker and should contribute early on.
| Grade: 84.4 | Round Grade: 2nd |
4
Devon Achane
School: Texas A&M
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 188 lbs
Strengths:
Achane is one of the best backs in the draft in terms of pure speed. His track background is evident when he is on the football field. Achane can hit holes quickly and explode into the secondary. There have been times where he split the safeties and proceeded to run quite a distance. I wouldn’t say he is the twitchiest or shiftiest player, but his one cut ability is very good. One cut is really all he needs to completely shift the direction of the play, and he can turn nothing situations into something big. Achane is generally pretty reliable as a pass catcher, and his ability to run routes out of the back field, or when split out, is at a high level. He is someone who you definitely want with the ball in his hands in the open field, where he can be extremely difficult to catch. Achane is at his best running to the outside. With his speed, he is able to turn the corner, even with athletic LB’s trying to track him down. He is on the small side, but is pretty compact, so he can handle some work between the tackles.
Weaknesses:
Size is the main issue you’ll see with Achane. Though his frame is compact enough to handle inside runs, it is not his strongest suit, and coaches may prefer him in a committee. There were a lot of instances where he showed no hope of breaking through tackles. Even with his smaller size taken into consideration, I was a bit disappointed with the outcome on a lot of these. The vision he displays on the field can be inconsistent, with instances of him cutting back into walls, or trying to bounce the play outside when he didn’t need to. Achane offers significant value as a receiver, and generally shows good hands. However, he did have the odd drop when forced to extend out for the ball. In pass protection, I have seen him put in effort, but I don’t think he projects well at the next level. He doesn’t have the size to be consistent in this area, and LB seemed to overpower him on most occasions, even if he was able to alter their course enough for the QB to get the ball off intime.
Summary:
Achane is a consistent big play threat thanks to his game-breaking speed. He can take it to the house on any given play. His athletic traits as a runner, and ability as a receiver, should put him in day 2 consideration. That said, his smaller size and very modest inside ability will cause some teams to pause and think, as will his poor pass blocking. While I do think he can handle starting duties, his highest and best use may be as a committee back. How teams view his role will determine how high or low he is drafted.
| Grade: 80.0 | Round Grade: 2nd |
5
Zach Evans
School: Ole Miss
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 202 lbs
Strengths:
Evans is a north/south runner with the speed and power to break loose for chunk yardage on a consistent basis. He is like a bowling ball out there. Evans has good burst and can generate a lot of speed early in the process. By the time he hits the hole, he is already in or near top gear, and is able to outrun LB’s and members of the secondary as he advances into the open field. He has the size of a 3 down back and, when he is not breaking loose, he is powering his way forward for extra yards. Evans is just tough to bring down for defenders. He gets wrapped up and is still able to drag bodies forward, often for a few extra yards, and sometimes for six or seven. This makes him a big asset in short yardage and goalline situations. Evans gets plenty of power into his cuts. They are very crisp, and it allows him to open things up a little bit, and take advantage of lanes that are opening up against the grain.
Weaknesses:
The knock on Evans is that he can be a bit one dimensional. He is a great north/south runner with one cut ability, but he isn’t very twitchy, and his agility and shiftiness are not strengths to his game. This not only limits him as a runner, but also as a pass catcher. Whether running routes from the backfield or split out, his skill set isn’t something that would usually translate to much separation. As well, when used as a receiver, his hands did not look natural, and he wasn’t immune to drops. His lack of a receiving skill set combined with struggles in pass protection put his future as a 3 down back into question. As a runner, Evans can improve his vision near the line, as the running lanes he takes are not always the best ones. Sometimes he could stand to be a bit more patient to let things develop. A bit of a fumbling issue is also something he’ll have to cut out.
Summary:
Evans catches your eye with his combination of speed, size, and power. He doesn’t have a frame that would concern you when too many carries are given. His ability to fright through contact for extra yards, and outrun defenders in the open field, make him a candidate to eventually be a lead back. However, the lack of value he adds to the passing game may cut into his 3rd down snaps, and there is a case to be made that he is better off as a committee back. Ultimately, the system he ends up in could make a big difference.
| Grade: 78.7 | Round Grade: 3rd |
6
Roschon Johnson
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 219 lbs
Strengths:
Johnson is an absolute bowling ball as a runner. His size and power are just outstanding. But beyond that, his athleticism is surprisingly very good. Johnson can pick up a head of steam quickly, not only to burst through a hole up the middle, but also to bounce things outside when he needs to. His vision is also good, and he is able pick out his running lanes nicely, while showing patience in the process. While he won’t be juking people out, he’s got a sharp cut that has made several defenders whiff on their tackle attempts. As well, from time to time, he unleashes a hurdle that has also proven to be effective. Johnson is a well balanced runner. He can not only absorb contact, but bounce right off of it, and continue forward. He is a menace in short yardage situations. His pure size and power is, more often than not, too much to handle for single defenders. Pile-ups are needed to stop him. Johnson is a capable receiver who can do a bit more than your basic work. His hands are generally reliable. With the ball in his hands, he can pick up extra yards. Texas was able to take advantage of his size and strength. Not only was he really good in pass protection, but he also saw snaps as a lead blocker, with plenty of success.
Weaknesses:
Johnson has a nice combination of speed and power, but his big frame causes some stiffness and limits his quickness. Much of his elusiveness is generated from just one sharp cut. However, when one on one in space, he doesn’t have that true skillset to really make people miss consistently. While speed is good, you could add the “relative to his size tag” to it. He has enough juice to turn the corner, but at the next level, this could be a little more hit or miss. Johnson is a solid pass catcher, but doesn’t show anything special in terms of route running. Going back to his lack of quickness and suddenness, separation is a bit harder to come by, and keeping him in the backfield on passing plays is probably best. As a runner, Johnson can get the pad level a little bit high, giving defenders a bigger tackling target, while also taking away some leg drive. Just ironing out some technical kinks can make a big difference.
Summary:
Johnson brings outstanding size, and good speed, given how big his frame is. Power is the name of his game, but he generates momentum pretty quickly as well, making him very tough to bring down. His sharp cuts allow him to evade some tackles. Johnson’s work in the passing game, both as a receiver and pass protector, don’t go unnoticed. Especially his pass protection. The snaps as a lead blocker was a nice bonus. For all the strengths, Johnson is a bit limited when it comes to quickness and agility. He can be a bit stiff as a runner, which limits his ability to make people miss. But overall, he’s got the skill set to be a three down back. Nice power runner with added benefits, solid receiver, and great pass protector. Ceiling may be a bit of a question mark, but he should make it at the next level.
| Grade: 78.6 | Round Grade: 3rd |
7
Zach Charbonnet
School: UCLA
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 214 lbs
Strengths:
Charbonnet runs with power and conviction on every touch. His frame has bulk, and he is able to lower his shoulder and handle contact. Charbonnet is a chore to bring down due to these traits, and the consistency in which he applies them should give him an exceptional floor at the next level. He does well to follow his blocks and maximize the yards he can pick up without even being touched. With a lot of north/south runners, you don’t get a lot of value in the passing game. However, Charbonnet has done well to ensure that he brings more value than just that of a power rusher. He has soft hands and can make snags away from his body. His big frame allows him to bounce off of tackles as the catch is secured, and enables him to pick up some extra yards. With his big frame, Charbonnet has potential to thrive in pass protection, and there have been some big flashes where he was able to use his power to deliver a pretty significant blow to the blitzer.
Weaknesses:
While Charbonnet brings size and power to the table as a runner, he is otherwise pretty limited. His initial speed is good, but he lacks that second gear that is required to draw off from defenders at the second level. He is also stiff when moving laterally, and as a result, lacks much of an east/west dynamic. His feet can get stuck in the mud when trying to change directions, which really limits his ability to create for himself when blocking isn’t quite as good. As well, it limits his elusiveness in the open field. As a runner, he has a tendency to dance a little bit near the line of scrimmage when bigger rushing lanes aren’t developing. This leads to losses or maybe a gain of a yard or two, when in some cases, more decisiveness would have still netted him 5 or 6 yards. Given his playing style, it is impressive for him to have this much ability as a receiver. However, he isn’t someone who will be overly dynamic in this area, and I don’t think he is someone I would split out at the next level. Charbonnet shows potential in pass protection, but more technical refinement will be needed.
Summary:
Charbonnet is a good power runner with the size and strength to rumble between the tackles and deliver punishing blows at the end of his runs. In terms of lateral mobility, he is limited, so you won’t get much in terms of creativity and plays to the outside. Charbonnet is instead at his best running to the inside. For this kind of back, he offered more as a receiver than you usually see. He is not Alvin Kamara by any means, but his hands are soft and he can catch passes out of the backfield, and eat up yards that are there in front of him. So while he may not be the dynamic player we see more of these days, he can play as a lead back on all three downs. If he can improve his technique in pass protection, it will help maximize his 3rd down snaps.
| Grade: 74.9 | Round Grade: 4th |
8
Israel Abanikanda
School: Pitt
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 216 lbs
Strengths:
Abanikanda brings some size and speed to the table, and at times shows a decent power element. He likes to hit the hole quickly and, if he is able to get loose to the next level, can turn a 10 yard gain into a 40 or 50 yarder. Abanikanda’s long speed is a weapon. He can move early in the play, and it is visible when he hits that next gear to draw off from his opponents. Abanikanda has pretty good size and doesn’t fear lowering his shoulder to pound out a few extra yards at the end of the play. Some value as a receiver is evident on tape. He generally shows soft hands, and when he’s got green grass in front of him, Abanikanda eats it up quickly, picking up a big chunk of yards before defenders can get over to bring him down. Abanikanda is a good one cut runner, and this has led to several of his big plays. On outside runs, he goes with the momentum, but is then able to quickly cut back inside, before using his next gear to run away from defenders.
Weaknesses:
Abanikanda, on some occasions, shows some nice power as a runner. However, there are other times where he seems to be brought down too easily. The consistency isn’t quite there. As well, he can be too urgent to hit the hole, and end up crashing into a wall before the play has developed. Athletically, you see good speed. However, he doesn’t have the shiftiness to match. One cut plays are fine, but when he needs to stop and change directions, his feet can get a little stuck in the mud. You won’t consistently see him juke his way out of a jam. Abanikanda is solid as a pass catcher, but he isn’t a perfect route runner, due to the issues mentioned previously. As well, he will need to develop as a pass protector in order to maximize his usage on 3rd downs.
Summary:
Abanikanda possesses a solid blend of speed and size to handle the workload as a lead back. While he isn’t perfect as a pass catcher, he definitely does enough to still be an asset, and it shouldn’t be a reason he is coming off on 3rd down. I would like to see a little more consistency with his finishing. He has shown good power on several occasions, but some plays were disappointing, as he is capable of better. Improvement in pass protection will be needed, as it is increasingly becoming an important part of the role of a RB. Overall, he is not a perfect prospect, but the tools are there to be a solid lead back.
| Grade: 74.6 | Round Grade: 4th |
9
Sean Tucker
School: Syracuse
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
Tucker is a smooth back who possesses the suddenness to make people miss in the open field and in tight areas. On inside runs, he is able to weave his way through traffic for a respectable gain. Tucker possesses the speed and acceleration necessary to kick things outside and get around the corner. The breakaway speed is evident to convert 10-15 yard runs into 30 yarders. His ability to stop on a dime and change directions really stands out on tape. Not only does it give him the ability to reverse the direction of the play when no running lanes open up, but it also allows him to be elusive in space. Tucker is a playmaker as a receiver. He does well on swing routes, but I really like him running routes deeper down the field, as his ability to create separation is quite good. He has soft hands and can haul in a variety of passes. He is a hands catcher, but can also track it over the shoulder as it lands in the bucket.
Weaknesses:
Tucker is a bit undersized. Though he does seem to have enough bulk on his frame to make up for it, he still plays with relatively little power. Most of his success up the middle comes from creating room for himself. But when he needs to overcome some contact, he loses that battle more often than not. Tucker shows flashes of well thought out runs, but his decision making can be inconsistent. He often tries to prematurely bounce runs outside, instead of giving things a chance to open up. Tucker got a good amount of work in pass protection, but largely struggled. His technique was sloppy and he was often unable to counter the strength of his opponent.
Summary:
Tucker has the speed and stop/start ability to pile up chunk gains. His ability as a pass catcher further adds to his upside, but also raises his floor. At the very least, he should be a valuable 3rd down back. His path to being an every down starter will likely require at least one of two things. Either he adds a power element to his game in order to fight off contact between the tackles, or he is able to translate his college success weaving through traffic up the middle to the NFL level. Further, he will likely need to show improvement in pass protection to maximize his snap count. Tucker is not a perfect prospect, but he brings some things to the table that an organization should be willing to get behind.
| Grade: 72.7 | Grade: 4th |
10
Keaton Mitchell
School: East Carolina
Ht/Wt: 5’8”, 179 lbs
Strengths:
Mitchell is an electrifying playmaker with the ball in his hands. Speed is killer. If you let him turn the corner, or burst through a hole to the second level, he very well could be gone to the house. With his speed, if he gets ahead of you, you aren’t catching him. Mitchell also has great quickness and elusiveness. One juke is all he needs to have a defender spun inside out. With this ability, he can create something out of nothing almost instantaneously, and can finagle his way out of a jam, when it seems as though he is caught. His electrifying ability translates over into the passing game. He is tough to cover and can do serious damage when he catches a pass in the open field.
Weaknesses:
Mitchell is undersized for a RB, and more importantly, he lacks any kind of a power element to his game. If he is unable to get through the hole when running between the tackles, he’ll get brought down pretty easily. There is no “carrying guys forward” to his game. If a defender wraps him up, he is going down in that spot. This limits what his likely role will be in the NFL. His lack of power also puts his ability to develop as a pass blocker in serious doubt. As a receiver, Mitchell has dynamic ability, but had more drops that I would have liked to see. He’ll have to clean that up. When running the ball, he can sometimes lead himself into trouble at times, especially when trying to bounce it outside prematurely.
Summary:
Mitchell is a dynamic playmaker when he is able to get the ball in his hands in the open field. He can turn the corner and is a threat to take it to the house on every play. For all this playmaking ability he has, Mitchell is unfortunately lacking when it comes to size and power. I don’t see a future for him as an inside runner, meaning he will likely be a complimentary passing back at the next level. Luckily, his elite athleticism makes him a fit for the passing back role. If he ends up in the right system, he can be a big contributor. But his weaknesses will need to be worked around heavily.
| Grade: 71.3 | Round Grade: 4th |
11
Kenny McIntosh
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 204 lbs
Strengths:
McIntosh is a natural pass catcher who can make plays from various alignments. He is effective out of the backfield and has a bit of shiftiness to add on some yardage after the catch. McIntosh can create separation from the slot or the boundary, and can track the ball over his shoulder. While he isn’t really someone who is “hit sticking” people, his contact balance is pretty solid. He can slip out of tackles and fall forward for some extra yards. McIntosh has good burst out of the gate, which allows him to take advantage of running lanes that open up early in the play. As a runner, he possesses a sharp cut and is capable of making people miss in the open field and in tighter spaces.
Weaknesses:
Athletically speaking, burst is much better than his speed. He starts off with a boom to make his way to the next level, but instead of hitting that next gear, he fades slightly, allowing defenders to catch him from behind. His performance at the combine reflected what I saw on tape. McIntosh likes to play with some pop to his game, but he can be inconsistent when faced head on with a defender. I would have liked to see him show a bit more power in these situations. His vision is sometimes what got him into these situations in the first place. Better decision making can help him find better running lanes on a more consistent basis. McIntosh has some ability in pass protection, but still has some improvements to make.
Summary:
McIntosh doesn’t seem like a super high upside player, but I think he does enough of everything to potentially work his way up to a starting spot one day. His pass catching ability could/should earn him a role early on. His burst and sharp cuts, meanwhile, allow him to have success as a runner to the outside and inside. Overall athleticism, however, is lacking. It is clearly evident as his run progresses. This puts a limit on his ceiling and could push him down a little bit. Still, with the right improvements, he can potentially contribute early on.
| Grade: 70.9 | Round Grade: 4th |
12
Kendre Miller
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 215 lbs
Strengths:
MIller shows great vision when running between the tackles. He processes things quickly, and is able to decipher which running lane is the best one to take. With Miller, you’ll get a good combination of size and power. Defenders won’t bring him down easily, and he’ll make sure to lower his shoulder and punish you on his way down. In many cases, he was able to drag a defender with him for some extra yards before finally going down. Miller has a solid cut, which, combined with his vision, allows him to pick up solid yardage on inside runs, even against a stacked box. With his big frame, he is someone that can be an asset in pass protection, and he has had some bright moments in this area.
Weaknesses:
Miller is a great power back and can have success running to the inside. However, he is a one dimensional player. He doesn’t have the speed or elusiveness to have consistent success running to the outside, without great blocking. And even then it’s iffy. The runaway speed just isn’t there. When approached by a defender, he can’t often make him miss, so he lowers his shoulder out of necessity. Miller doesn’t bring much to the table in the passing attack outside of pass protection. He can execute the most basic stuff, but not much beyond that, with any consistency.
Summary:
Miller can be a good role player for a team looking specifically for a power back. He is smart and can maximize his yardage on inside runs. Unfortunately, he doesn’t offer much elusiveness and won’t contribute a lot in the passing game. As a result, he will most likely be a committee/situational back at the next level.
| Grade: 69.1 | Round Grade: 5th |
13
Deuce Vaughn
School: Kansas State
Ht/Wt: 5’5”, 179 lbs
Strengths:
Vaughn is a small back, but his desire to take on contact is impressive. He isn’t someone that will let tacklers off easy. This attitude and effort is seen in his running, and on plays where he does not have the ball. He willingly contributes in pass protection, and will also get in front of ball carriers to block. As a runner, he has good speed and good quickness. I wouldn’t say elite, but overall, his athleticism works in his favour. His cuts are sharp, which helps as a runner and receiver. He can run crisp routes from the backfield or when split out, and especially looked dangerous running the wheel route. While outside runs are more so his thing, Vaughn can hold his own when running between the tackles, thanks largely to his ability to stay low and find a way through small openings.
Weaknesses:
Size is the clear and obvious issue for Vaughn. While he does surprisingly well to mitigate it, the fact remains that it will very likely still cause limitations to exist at the next level. Despite his efforts to implement a rugged element to his game, he will likely have a tough time running between the tackles. Maybe he can find modest success in this area, but given his size, he would be an outlier. On tape, he looks like a good athlete, but I don’t see any elite qualities in terms of speed or quickness. While his level is more than acceptable, when you are this undersized, having elite top tier athleticism becomes more important. As a runner, there were a few issues with vision. In some instances, he would make a cut and direct himself right into a wall. Vaughn has had some solid moments in pass protection, but with his size, you have to wonder about how well it will translate. Most people will likely be on the “see it to believe it” side when it comes to him as a pass protector, and a lot of other things, for that matter.
Summary:
Vaughn was a big producer in college, and was able to succeed running to the outside and inside, and also as a pass catcher. The film is pretty good, and he even plays with a tougher demeanor than you would expect. However, it is still hard to get past his size. I do think he can potentially carve out a big role for himself. He has shown to be capable. But how well can he really do it at the next level? There are a lot of question marks due to his size. At the very least, he has solid potential as a passing down back. As for a bigger role, I’m far from saying he’ll get there, but I wouldn’t put it past him either. There is something sneaky about him as a player, and I could see him overachieving.
| Grade: 68.6 | Round Grade: 5th |
14
Tank Bigsby
School: Auburn
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 210 lbs
Strengths:
Bigsby is a back that comes with size and a nice amount of power. He is primarily an inside runner, but has quick enough feet to maneuver well enough in a phone booth. Bigsby likes to use a jumpcut and sidestep to evade tackles, and at times, this has helped him convert modest gains into large ones that end up in the secondary. Power is the main component of his game. He is not easy to bring down, and he does well to fall forward for extra yards. His vision is good and, though outside running is not his strong suit, he still can determine the right times to take it that way towards the corner. Bigsby’s big frame is an asset in pass protection. Some work can still be done in terms of the technical elements, but he is coming along and should be able to help a team in this area.
Weaknesses:
Bigsby is a power back that is lacking true all around athleticism to be a complete runner. While he is quick enough in tight spaces, his lateral mobility is still not great, and he can struggle when bouncing things outside. Further, he doesn’t quite have the early speed to turn the corner consistently, and his high pad level makes him easier to bring down. His speed gets a bit better as the play develops and he gets a chance to get into his top gear. However, overall, it still isn’t that great relative to the positional expectations. Bigsby offers little as a receiver. He wasn’t used often, beyond just the basic stuff. When he was used, he didn’t look like a natural catcher of the football. As well, he has had a few fumbling issues that will need to be cleaned up.
Summary:
Bigsby will be an asset to a team as a power runner that can do a tad bit more. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he is super elusive. But his ability to subtly evade tackles is more than other backs with this style are able to bring. Still, due to his lack of ability as a receiver, a two down role is more likely, and his size and power will be nice compliments to a speedier back. If Bigsby can continue to develop in pass protection, perhaps he can squeeze out more 3rd down snaps.
| Grade: 68.0 | Round Grade: 5th |
15
Chase Brown
School: Illinois
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 209 lbs
Strengths:
Brown’s top attribute is his high end top speed. You can see him hit the hole quickly and then turn on the burners as he outruns a line of defenders en route to a huge pickup. He is pretty light on his feet and has good stop/start ability. Brown can be a bit deceptive as a runner. He’ll look like he is about to hit the hole, but then pause for a split second before accelerating. That extra second allows for the lane to open up nicely. And he does a good job of timing it. Brown is able to contribute as a receiver. He is a solid route runner and his speed can create some problems. With the ball in his hands, he can take it quite a ways. Brown shows some willingness in pass protection, which at least offers the chance for development in this area.
Weaknesses:
Brown isn’t undersized, but regardless, his game lacks any kind of pop or power. When he is met at the line by defensive linemen, it is often a complete stonewall. You get little to no chance of picking up extra yards after the initial contact is made. Unfortunately, if this remains unchanged at the NFL level, he is unlikely to be utilized as more than a rotational/situational player. Brown is an athletic player, but not super twitchy. He isn’t someone who will juke guys out in the open field. Instead, he is more of a one cut runner. Brown shows willingness in pass protection, but without much of a power element, his efforts are likely to yield little success at the next level. This past season, Brown had a few fumbles. Ball security is something he’ll have to clean up a little bit.
Summary:
Brown brings high end speed to the table. When he makes it through the running lane and into the next level, he is a threat to out run everybody, and take it to the house. Ability as a receiver is also there. However, Brown lacks a power element, and often gets stonewalled when trying to run up the middle. As a result, his likely role at the next level is a committee back. He can execute runs to the outside and catch some passes. But he’ll need a bigger back to compliment him.
| Grade: 66.7 | Round Grade: 5th |
16
Eric Gray
School: Oklahoma
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
Gray is a good receiving back, with the ability to make plays from the backfield or from the slot. He makes good cuts and is able to create separation as a result. He displays good hands and doesn’t fight with the ball at the catch point. As a runner, he flashes some nifty feet in tighter spaces. His ability to cut helps him here, as he can quickly make it back inside and get through the running lane. Sidesteps are also used to evade tackles. Gray has a pretty compact frame and is able to run through contact. He is someone who can be used in short yardage situations.
Weaknesses:
Speed is a big question mark. It didn’t look great at times, on tape. There were instances where Gray would look sluggish trying to run to the outside, and eventually get caught near the line of scrimmage. Long speed is also an issue. He was able to pop a big play from time to time, but his inability to draw off limited just how big these plays could be. As someone who may make his money as a pass catcher, I’d like to see him improve in pass protection.
Summary:
Gray is a hard runner who can make the necessary downhill cuts to take advantage of running lanes opening up to the inside. He plays with enough power to run between the tackles. That said, his work as a pass catcher looked like his best. Gray can make plays from various alignments. Overall though, his ceiling may be limited to situational snaps and being a versatile backup. His speed was underwhelming much of the time, and it puts a big limit on his ceiling.
| Grade: 64.9 | Round Grade: 6th |
17
DeWayne McBride
School: UAB
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 209 lbs
Strengths:
McBride is a big bodied runner who can really pound the rock. His decisiveness between the tackles is evident, and he is successfully able to utilize a jump cut to evade tackles and find some more open space. McBride can be very tough to bring down. Multiple defenders can pile on, and still get dragged forward for a few extra yards. As well, McBride has shown an impressive stiff arm. For a bruiser type back, his acceleration is pretty solid. When he picks up steam, he can be a nightmare to challenge one on one. His traits translate nicely in goalline situations. As well, they give him potential in pass protection.
Weaknesses:
McBride is about as one dimensional as it gets for a RB. He is a north/south power runner, but is otherwise pretty limited. His burst and speed are fine for his style, but he doesn’t have the breakaway speed to draw off when he does get to the next level. As well, he lacks the lateral mobility to have much success running to the outside. McBride was rarely used in the passing game in college, and his skill set would suggest that this is unlikely to change as a pro. McBride had a significant problem with fumbles this past year. It is certainly something he’ll need to put some added focus on, or he could end up moving down a depth chart, not up.
Summary:
McBride is a big back, and he runs with good power. His tough, north/south running style should make him a solid compliment to a smaller, more athletic back. He can thrive in short yardage situations, and his ability to find the endzone is useful. However, he lacks lateral agility and top end speed to be a complete runner. As well, McBride doesn’t offer much in the passing game. As a result, he is limited to a committee role, and that is if he can keep his fumbling issue under control.
| Grade: 63.1 | Round Grade: 6th |
18
Evan Hull
School: Northwestern
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 209 lbs
Strengths:
Hull, on tape, stands out the most as a pass catcher. He has the skill set to be moved around the formation and create mismatches. Hull has some twitchiness to his game, and he is able to create separation as a route runner. Further, he is a natural catcher of the football and can pick up some yards after the catch. As for the rest of his game, he brings a little of everything. He tested pretty well at the combine, and his speed and quickness are solid on tape. Hull is a pretty smooth runner and is capable of making people miss in the open field. As well, he has enough power to be a solid runner between the tackles. Hull is a tough player and has special teams ability, which will help his bid for a roster spot.
Weaknesses:
While I wouldn’t say he is bad in any area athletically, he isn’t great in any of them either. His speed is solid, but he lacks that next gear. He gets chased down by defenders on most occasions when he gets into the secondary. He also has some power, but he isn’t exactly bowling guys over either. This skill set will allow him to do a number of things, but the ceiling is relatively low for all of them. Hull’s best skill set comes as a pass catcher, but he still needs quite a bit of improvement as a pass protector. For someone who makes his money catching passes out of the backfield, an inability to pass protect might limit his opportunities on the field.
Summary:
Hull can do a bit of everything – run up the gut, get to the outside, play on special teams etc. But his biggest asset to a team will be as a pass catcher. He has soft hands and is able to create separation from all over. Unfortunately, while he is an all around player, his traits in most of these areas are modest. This means that his ceiling will be pretty low. Still, the offensive floor and ability to play on special teams should appeal to coaches. He kind of reminds me of a Rex Burkhead type of player. His floor and special teams ability should earn him a spot. Improving in pass protection may be what he needs to do to maximize his opportunities.
| Grade: 61.9 | Round Grade: 6th |
19
Xazavian Valladay
School: Arizona State
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
Valladay is a slippery runner with the ability to negotiate his way out of trouble. Though not a miracle worker, he has some shiftiness to his game that allows to make people miss in the open field, and also navigate through the middle. His speed comes in bursts, and when he gets them, he’ll quickly end up in the secondary. Valladay’s play as a receiver is probably what I like most about his game. He has soft hands and the ability to separate and make plays from any alignment. Valladay also shows high football IQ in receiving situations. He does well to pick out soft spots in the coverage, and knows how to work with the QB when things go a little off script. Valladay was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and was arguably the best offensive player in the game.
Weaknesses:
Valladay has a lean frame and doesn’t play with much power. Most often, especially on inside runs, he does down where the tackle was initiated. He has good burst, but his speed can take a little while to build up. His best flashes come when he already has some momentum to build on. However, he sometimes has a difficult time early on in plays where his speed looks very average. Projecting forward to when he faces NFL talent, it is fair to question how this will translate.
Summary:
The lack of initial speed and his lean frame and lack of power are knocks on his game. However, Valladay does have the ability to pop some big runs when he is decisive and finds a bit of room so he can let that speed build up. His ability in the passing game brings value, but he seems like a rotational back at the next level.
| Grade: 59.5 | Round Grade: 7th |
20
Mohamed Ibrahim
School: Minnesota
Ht/Wt: 5’8”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
Ibrahim is a compact, powerful downhill runner. A true thumper. He brings it on every play, and this violent streak that he runs with can’t make things fun for the people trying to bring him down. He has enough explosiveness out of the gate to hit the hole before it closes up. His ability to lower the shoulder and fight for every yard is something that will come in handy in short yardage/goalline situations.Ibrahim displays good vision on a consistent basis. He runs with an urgency, but also has enough patience and can see the play well enough to let things develop and then determine the correct path on which to proceed. His big frame and strength has come in handy in pass protection. He has the ability to stand up blitzers.
Weaknesses:
Ibrahim is a one dimensional RB, and has a playing style that you see less of these days. He lacks the speed and lateral movement skills to threaten on outside runs, and his role as a runner will likely be limited at the next level. The speed to draw off on longer runs is also lacking. Additionally, Ibrahim does not offer much as a receiver, meaning at best he is a 2 down back. He has had success as a pass blocker when afforded the opportunity to use his strength against his opponent. However, quicker blitzers have been able to beat him around the rush edge. There are also other concerts that go beyond his performance. Ibrahim has a bit of an injury history, and is also an overaged prospect. This further limits his upside.
Summary:
Ibrahim is lacking in the speed department and does not offer much as a pass catcher. However, he is well built and plays with enough power to be an effective committee player as a power back. He fights for extra yards, and often wins those fights. He could be a goal-line back at the next level. Overall, there are some things to work with. However, limited upside, an injury history, and his advanced age for a prospect will likely push him down draft boards.
| Grade: 59.1 | Round Grade: 7th |
Full Rankings:
- Bijan Robinson (91.2, Rd 1)
- Jahmir Gibbs (87.9, Rd 1)
- Tyjae Spears (84.4, Rd 2)
- Devon Achane (80.0, Rd 2)
- Zach Evans (78.7, Rd 3)
- Roschon Johnson (78.6, Rd 3)
- Zach Charbonnet (74.9, Rd 4)
- Israel Abanikanda (74.6, Rd 4)
- Sean Tucker (72.7, Rd 4)
- Keaton Mitchell (71.3, Rd 4)
- Kenny McIntosh (70.9, Rd 4)
- Kendre Miller (69.1, Rd 5)
- Deuce Vaughn (68.6, Rd 5)
- Tank Bigsby (68.0, Rd 5)
- Chase Brown (66.7, Rd 5)
- Eric Gray (64.9, Rd 6)
- DeWayne McBride (63.1, Rd 6)
- Evan Hull (61.9, Rd 6)
- Xazavian Valladay (59.5, Rd 7)
- Mohamed Ibrahim (59.1, Rd 7)
Notables Not Graded:
- Chris Rodriguez
- Cam Peoples
- Travis Dye
- SaRodorick Thompson
- Deneric Prince
- Tavion Thomas
- Tiyon Evans
