The 2020 NFL Draft is right around the corner and some teams may be looking for future franchise running backs. Who fits that bill?
A few teams will be looking to add a running back in the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft. While this class may not seem loaded, there are still some prospects with franchise back potential.
There are underrated prospects like Eno Benjamin, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Cam Akers and AJ Dillon who could surprise some people at the next level with their intangibles. These guys should become solid backs at the pro level, but maybe not ‘franchise’ backs.
From the 2020 class, who could be the league’s next batch of upper-tier backs?
3
D’Andre Swift
RB Georgia
Many believe D’Andre Swift is the top running back in this year’s class, but he’s third in my rankings. The star from Georgia is one of the best all-purpose backs in this year’s cycle, finishing his career with nearly 3,000 rushing yards and almost 650 receiving yards, making him one of those do-everything backs that many teams need.
Swift would be a fantastic addition for the Kansas City Chiefs. They’re looking for a running back who can run between the tackles, showcase some acceleration, hit holes hard and also leak out of the backfield to have an effect on the passing game — something they missed in 2019 without Kareem Hunt.
Imagine an offense like the Chiefs getting even more potent with an all-purpose back. They could get him at the end of the first round or put off finding a running back until later in the draft.
2
Jonathan Taylor
RB Wisconsin
Worried about the mileage on Jonathan Taylor’s tires? You’re not the only one. With back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons and a three-year career with over 6,000 rushing yards, Taylor has the best numbers of any running back in this class, but the tread on those tires has some teams scared because he already plays a position with a short shelf life.
But if teams are willing to look past Taylor’s 926 career carries, they’ll be able to see that he has size, speed and showed an improved pass-catching ability in 2019.
You might think that Taylor is strictly a power back, but he had enough speed to blow by defenders when reaching the second level over the past three seasons. His 5-foot-11, 219-pound frame is ideal and he has everything you want in a franchise back.
Taylor has a bright future in the NFL and will be the next great Wisconsin back.
1
JK Dobbins
RB Ohio State
No. 1 on this list may be a surprise, but I’ve been high on JK Dobbins all season long and believe he has the best chance to become a franchise back of any prospect. Why? Because Dobbins has everything you look for in an every-down back at the next level and has true star potential.
Dobbins has excellent vision, incredible burst, a good frame, speed, power and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. His only true weakness is his pass protection, but that’s something he can work on and it shouldn’t hold him back at the next level.
This is another back who could be a good fit with the Chiefs as he’d lead that offense to an even more dangerous level or even the Texans to help Deshaun Watson out. He’s going to follow Ezekiel Elliott’s footsteps and become the next great back from Ohio State.
Teams like the Dolphins, Chiefs and Texans will all be looking to add running backs relatively early in this year’s draft and these three guys could turn their run games completely around.