Friday, November 8, 2024
HomesportJoel Klatt: Top five running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft

Joel Klatt: Top five running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft


Draft season is right here!

As we get ready for the three-day tournament that can be held in Detroit from April 25-27, I’ll be shedding some positional scores sooner than unveiling my top-50 possibilities within the 2024 NFL Draft.

Thus far, I’ve ranked my top-five quarterbacks and pass catchers. Now, let’s center of attention at the 5 highest operating backs on this presen’s draft elegance.

Not like my earlier scores, I need to rely ailing from 5-1 with the operating again scores as a result of I don’t really feel there’s an perceptible participant at Incorrect. 1. There isn’t a prized ownership at operating again that there may had been in alternative years, like a Bijan Robinson or a Jahmyr Gibbs. However even though there isn’t a operating again decided on within the first around, there’s stunning intensity on the function on this presen’s draft, as some can be stunning additions to their pristine groups. 

Whether or not they’re the featured operating again for his or her group or now not, those gamers will assistance their groups win video games within the coming seasons. Simply check out some fresh drafts. The Los Angeles Rams decided on Kyren Williams within the 5th around, and he used to be 3rd in dashing this presen. James Cook used to be a past due second-round pick out through the Buffalo Bills, and he used to be fourth in dashing in 2023. Isiah Pacheco used to be a seventh-round pick out and has performed a key function for the Kansas City Chiefs of their latter two Tremendous Bowl-winning seasons.

Let’s get to my top-five operating backs within the 2024 NFL Draft.

5. Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright

Wright used to be second-team All-SEC in 2023 and used to be the Volunteers’ eminent rusher in every of the latter two seasons. However what I in point of fact love about his recreation is his house run skill. His velocity additionally jumps off the tape. 

Wright’s been trying out properly too. He ran a 4.38 40-yard presen (moment amongst operating backs) on the mix, which is stunning and a feather in his cap. What it in point of fact does, even though, is it solidifies what the tape displays. Whilst you monitor him run, you’ll see his house run skill. I really like his velocity.

That house run skill used to be on complete show right through his school occupation. He i’m in a hurry for 3 75-plus-yard landing runs, two of which got here in opposition to SEC pageant. To not disparage alternative leagues, however there’s actual velocity at the garden in SEC video games. But, Wright used to be ready to isolated and create obese performs. That’s extremely significance for an NFL workforce. 

Joel Klatt ranks the top-five operating backs within the 2024 NFL Draft.

I really like Wright’s bounce snip. He’s were given sticky fingers and I believe he can catch the ball properly out of the backfield. 

The only factor that I believe Wright’s moving to have to wash up is his ball safety. He’s had the propensity to place the ball at the field, fumbling the ball 4 occasions in 2022. If Wright can conserve onto the ball, he can in point of fact go away. 1 / 4 of his rushes went for no less than 10 yards. He’s simply rapid.

4. Oregon RB Bucky Irving

Irving is a hell of a participant. He had back-to-back 1,000 rushing-yard seasons and used to be named first-team All-Pac 12 in 2023.

Bucky Irving rushes for a TOUGH 19-yard TD to increase Oregon’s govern.

I believe Irving’s highest feature is his skill to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s a stunning runner, like any of those guys, however he led all FBS operating backs in receptions (56) in 2023. Take a look at what’s going down within the NFL. Why is Bijan Robinson so excellent? Why is Jahmyr Gibbs so excellent? Why is Christian McCaffrey regarded as the most productive skill-position participant within the recreation? It’s as a result of all of the ones gamers can catch the ball out of the backfield. Irving can do the entirety in between the tackles, however he generally is a blackmail out of the backfield through catching the ball. 

Irving’s measurement is more than likely his greatest knock, however he’s sure-handed. For somebody who’s continuously the smallest participant at the garden, he handiest misplaced one fumble on 475 carries in his school occupation. Once I shared my mix takeaways and winners latter generation, I discussed that the development serves a goal because of its skill to determine ties between possibilities. Irving’s ball safety is why he’s forward of Wright. 

3. Texas RB Jonathon Brooks

Your first intuition could be to marvel why I’ve were given Brooks this top, taking into account he’s coming off a knee trauma, however he in point of fact didn’t have a dozen of carries in his school occupation. There’s a dozen of tread left at the tries.

Brooks is probably the most related to that crew of Robinson, Gibbs and McCaffrey amongst those top-five operating backs. He’s very dynamic operating the soccer, and he’s the sort of blackmail catching it out of the backfield. We handiest wanted one presen to peer simply how excellent of a participant Brooks is.

Quinn Ewers hyperlinks up with Jonathon Brooks for a 37-yard landing to provide Texas the govern in opposition to Rice

It’s a bummer that Brooks tore his ACL past due within the presen as a result of I believe he would’ve been the summit operating again within the elegance. However you’ve were given to combine that trauma in with the analysis of Brooks. He’s a slasher, he’s stunning catching it out of the backfield, and he’s were given house run skill, and he slightly cracked the 200 dashing makes an attempt mark. Many of those alternative guys have double or triple that quantity. 

Brooks has excellent instincts, realizing find out how to acquire yards (1,425 yards from scrimmage in 10 video games latter season) and to find the top zone (11 general touchdowns in 2023). He’s additionally mischievous and a excellent chief. He’ll in point of fact assistance whichever workforce drafts him. 

2. Michigan RB Blake Corum

Corum examined, carried out and labored out extremely properly on the mix. His tape speaks for itself, so refuse worry there.

That is the direct reverse view of Brooks’ analysis even though. Corum had 675 occupation carries in school, which most likely can be a worry. 

Whilst you take a look at what Corum does properly, he’s moving to be triumphant simply so long as he’s in the correct scheme. He’s a surprisingly clean runner, and he’s were given that negligible waft step towards the layout of scrimmage. He used to be stunning in hole, duo and zone schemes. 

Corum is a well-rounded participant. He catches it in point of fact properly out of the backfield. He may now not deplete you away together with his catch numbers, however nobody at Michigan did for the reason that Wolverines simply didn’t throw the ball enough quantity. 

Michigan’s Blake Corum rushes for a 22-yard TD to pluck the govern over Ohio Condition

Nevertheless it’s Corum’s eye that stands proud probably the most. His eye is the most productive out of the entire operating backs on this draft, and it’s more than likely higher than many NFL operating backs as properly. When Michigan ran duo schemes, Corum’s eye in point of fact confirmed, as he may just inform which defensive gamers were given out in their gaps to get lengthy runs. 

Corum could also be an incredible chief, a selfless man and got here again for any other season to win a countrywide identify. He used to be the guts and soul of that workforce, which went 15-0 to achieve its objective of profitable a countrywide identify. He epitomized the persona, paintings ethic and selflessness of all the workforce. 

Corum is in point of fact going to achieve the NFL for all of the ones causes. 

1. Florida State RB Trey Benson

It used to be in point of fact crisp for me to recover from the scale and velocity mixture that Benson has. He’s 6-feet majestic, 216 kilos, and he ran a 4.39 within the 40-yard sprint. I am getting excited after I see that. 

Benson can be a stunning operating again within the NFL. He used to be second-team All-ACC in 2023, dashing for six.1 yards in keeping with elevate in every of the latter two seasons. His 40 presen used to be the 3rd fastest a few of the operating backs on the mix, so the trying out fits the tape.

On summit of that, Benson can catch the ball out of the backfield. Nevertheless it’s in point of fact his bodily attributes that rise out probably the most and provides him a surprisingly top ceiling. I really like his eye. There are occasions when Benson generally is a bit upright, however that’s most often the case for taller operating backs, like Derrick Henry. I’m now not seeking to evaluate him to Henry, however he’s proven that taking part in upright can paintings on the upcoming degree. His taste will play games properly within the NFL. 

Honorable mentions

USC RB MarShawn Lloyd

Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen

Notre Dame RB Audric Estime

I in point of fact liked Lloyd’s season at USC. Allen had tranquility good fortune at Wisconsin, dashing for three,500 yards in 35 video games as he used to be lovely a lot a While 1 starter for the Badgers. I really like Estime’s movie however I didn’t love him on the mix. Nonetheless, he’ll more than likely discover a house within the NFL and be triumphant.

Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ govern school soccer recreation analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Show.” Practice him on X/Twitter at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Show” on YouTube.


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