2020 NFL Draft Preview: Workhorse running backs are on the board
Mar 18, 2020, 6:56 AM | Updated: Apr 10, 2020, 10:29 am
The NFL Draft is slated for April 23-25, providing seven rounds for the Broncos and other teams to find their stars of the future. At this point, Denver is slated to have 11 total picks, five of which will fall within the first 95 selections. In other words, John Elway will have plenty of assets to work with throughout the weekend.
What will he do with those picks? That’s anyone’s guess. But in the coming weeks, 1043TheFan.com will provide an overview of the best prospects.
Today, we continue by looking at a position where the Broncos appear to be looking to upgrade in 2020 – running back. Yes, Phillip Lindsay is coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. But Denver has been rumored to be in the market for a free-agent back, while also talking to a lot of running backs at the Scouting Combine. So clearly, they’re interested in what’s out there. When the draft rolls around, here are the best options on the board:
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Top Five on the Board
1. Jonathan Taylor – Taylor is a true workhorse running back. At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, he has the build to withstand the punishment of 20-plus carries per game, something he demonstrated repeatedly at Wisconsin. During his last two seasons as a Badger, Taylor eclipsed the 2,000-yard rushing barrier, while also crossing the goal line a combined 37 times. He can run between the tackles and move the chains, but also possesses the speed to be a game-breaker in the open field.
2. J.K. Dobbins – Dobbins had a monster 2019 campaign at Ohio State, rushing for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns. He put up those numbers on 301 carries, demonstrating that he can be a feature back who can handle a hefty workload. What will make Dobbins a valuable asset at the NFL level is the fact that he’s a three-down back. Not only is he an effective runner, but he can be a part of the passing game and is solid in pass protection. Those traits will help him become an immediate impact player.
3. D’Andre Swift – During his time at Georgia, Swift was more of an outside runner and threat in the passing game than he was an every-down, between-the-tackles running back. So there’s a question as to how much of a bell cow he can be at the pro level. That said, Swift is projected to be a three-down player, which would make him a valuable part of any roster. He has the speed to be a playmaker out of the backfield, but might be a 10- to 15-carry-per-game type of runner.
4. Cam Akers – On paper, there’s nothing not to like about Akers. He has good size at 5-foot-10 and nearly 220 pounds, plus he possesses good speed. He runs hard, both inside and outside, and can catch the ball out of the backfield. The question marks arise, however, because there isn’t a lot of consistent film of him performing at a high level on a week-in, week-out basis. Perhaps that’s due to the fact that Florida State struggled as a team, but it does have scouts wondering about what exactly a team will get in Akers.
5. Zack Moss – Moss profiles as a “big back” in the NFL, checking in at 5-foot-10 and pushing 225 pounds. At Utah, he was really effective in short-yardage and goal-line situations. But at the same time, he’s a good receiver out of the backfield, which makes him an interesting dual-threat. A lack of breakaway speed will knock him down the draft board, and perhaps limit his NFL upside, but he’s a solid player who can certainly play at the pro level. In the right system, he’d be very effective.
