The 2024 NFL Draft produced some interesting anomalies, such as six quarterbacks being taken in the first round, the first defensive prospect not being taken until No. 15 overall and three wide receivers being taken in the top 10.
The first running back was not taken until No. 46 overall by the Carolina Panthers. The second running back went 20 picks later to the Arizona Cardinals. It was the latest the first running back had been drafted since the Tennessee Titans took Washington’s Bishop Sankey No. 54 overall in 2014. After waiting a long time for the position to be represented at the 2024 NFL Draft, fans should not have to wait nearly as long this coming year. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is my top-rated running back. His skill set is similar to Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (formerly of Alabama), who was taken No. 12 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jeanty has good vision, but his value is in his ability to catch passes out of the backfield.
And the depth of the running back class goes well beyond Jeanty. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina), Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) and Damien Martinez (Miami) are among the next batch of prospects. Several should come off the board within the top-100 picks. A few sleepers teams could add later in the draft include Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech) and Corey Kiner (Cincinnati).
In today’s thought exercise, we explore possible fits for a running back in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The draft order below was determined using SportsLine’s Super Bowl odds but in reverse order as of Thursday morning.
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!
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Author: Josh Edwards
September 19, 2024 | 9:10 am
