2024 NFL Draft prospect primer Next Derrick Henry Ranking RBs to watch plus pro comparisons and more

2024 NFL Draft prospect primer Next Derrick Henry Ranking RBs to watch plus pro comparisons and more

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The work never seems to end in theplayer evaluation world, which means front offices have already turned their attention toward the upcomingseason in advance of the 2024. With that in mind, let's continue our CBS Sports summer prospect series -- July 13 was theand July 20 was the -- with one of the most newsworthy positions: the running backs. running back was the first-team All-Pro running back in 2022 after leading the league in rushing yards (1,653) and scrimmage yards (2,053) at the age of 24. running back career-high 1,312 rushing yards last season ranked as the fourth-most in the and the most by a Giants player since Tiki Barber's 1,662 back in 2006; e sentially, Barkley acted as the hub for 2022 NFL Coach of the Year Brian Daboll's offense. running back led the NFL in scrimmage yards per touch last season (5.9) among players with at least 200 touches, a figure that was the most by a Cowboys player since Herschel Walker's 6.0 scrimmage yards/touch back in 1987.However, all three Pro Bowl backs were stiff-armed by their respective teams when it came time to get long-term contract extensions done before the start of the NFL season. All three franchise-tagged players will play on one-year deals.If these three can't secure long-term deals now, what hope is there for others at the position going forward? And they weren't the only top-flight rushers to suffer, either. Earlier this offseason,Pro Bowl running backin order to remain with the Green and Gold despite running for a career-high 1,121 rushing yards, the 10th-most in the NFL.When the player who has led the NFL in scrimmage touchdowns in each of the last two seasons asked for a contract Eric Thames Jersey extension or trade,running backwas simply handed afrom his.running backalsoto make himself more affordable for the AFC runner-ups.Free agent, who is the only player in the entire NFL with at least 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons, was outright released by thethis offseason.With their market trending downward, some of the league's top backs held to discu s what can be done.Six years ago, back in 2017, the running back franchise tag figure was $12.1 million. Today, that figure has decreased by $2 million to $10.1 million, which is what Jacobs and Pollard will make in 2023 on their fully-guaranteed, one-year deals. (Barkley can make up to $11 million after the two sides agreed upon a .)On the flip side, franchise tag figures have increased for quarterbacks ($21.2 million in 2017 to $32.4 in 2023), wide receivers ($15.6 million to $19.7 million), offensive linemen ($14.2 million to $18.2 million), defensive ends ($16.9 million to $19.7 million) and cornerbacks ($14.2 million to $18.1 million). "It's crazy to me because running backs bring so much value," Pro Bowl running back told CBS Sports on July 17 when asked about the running back market after Jacobs, Barkley, and Pollard didn't receive long-term deals. "You got to be able to protect, and have to pa s protect just like an offensive lineman. You have to know all the offensive line calls up front, who they're working to. You have to run the ball as well with 11 guys trying to hit you. You make it hard to take you off the field, so you're involved in the pa sing game. You're doing just as much as anyone else except for the quarterback and maybe the center on offense . I really don't understand how the position got devalued, but I hope our value comes back because if you look at it, running backs make a big difference in the game. Whether it's protecting the quarterback -- being that sixth-man in protection -- running the ball, or taking pre sure off of the quarterback in the pa sing game ."The and apparently agreed with Jones in the 2023 because Atlanta took Texas running back eighth overall and Detroit selected Alabama running back 12th overall -- marking the first time two backs were selected in the top 12 of a draft since 2017. That's when , the fourth overall pick by the , and , the eighth overall pick by the , each went inside the top 10. While the upcoming 2024 crop has a wide range of running back skillsets and styles, it doesn't have the same star power at the top.This summer series will examine where things stand entering the 2023 college season, but the order could look a little different come next April. Here's an in-depth look at the current top-five running backs with some pro comparisons from former longtime general manager and current CBS Sports HQanalyst Rick Spielman and CBS Sportsanalyst Ryan Wilson on the . Plus, they provide some names who could rise through the ranks in the season to come. The running backs are ordered using an aggregate ranking from Spielman, Wilson, and yours truly by their readine s for the NFL entering the 2023season.Height:5-foot-11|Weight:205 poundsAccolades/notable statistics: First player in ACC history to be named first-team All-ACC in three different categories (RB, all-purpose and return specialist); one of four ACC players since 2000 to total 11+ rush TD as a freshman and sophomore (also , and ); only player in FBS with at least 1,150 rushing yards, at least 200 receiving yards and at least 300 kickoff return yards (joined Clemson's (2009) as the only ACC players since 2000 to do so)Rick Spielman's comp: "He's a really solid player. I don't think he's a No. 1 running back. I think he's No. 2 running back, complimentary running back. He can catch the ball, but he's not a very good blocker. He has really good vision. Because of his skillset, he was one of the prominent players on Clemson because they needed him to keep them in games thanks to inconsistent quarterback play. My comp was Jerick McKinnon, a great No. 2, compliment running back. He can catch the ball, but Jerick is probably a little bit faster. Similar skillset for what they can bring to an offense as a receiver No. 2 back."Ryan Wilson's comp: Giovani Bernard"Shipley doesn't have that Christian McCaffrey or Jahmyr Gibbs athleticism, but he's versatile. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He's a matchup problem because he can catch. I would like to see him line up at other spots outside of the backfield. He's one of the toughest guys on the field. He's not going to give you much as a blocker, but that's not a surprise because of his size. He'll run through the tackles, but that's not as much his game. I would like to see run through more tackles, but I think he's an integral part of that offense. He's just not quite a super athlete, but he's a solid player. He's a kick-returner, too. I went with Gio Bernard out of North Carolina. Gio is a similar kind of player. Games to circle:at Miami (Oct. 21), vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 4)Draft range:Third or fourth roundFinal thoughtsWill Shipley is a running back for the modern NFL: he lined up in shotgun on 98.1% of his snaps, and he po se ses an agile brand of running, dodging and darting past defenders with ease after ducking through the hole. His 5.4 yards per carry average last season plus his 3.4 yards after contact average, per Pro Football Focus, indicate his early explosion and ability to power through initial hits. He's a do-it-all running back, as his 38 catches last year ranked as the ninth-most in the FBS for the position. Overall, he's a plug-and-play offensive weapon who can contribute in just about any role on offense coming out of the backfield. Will Shipley Clemson Highlights (@ClemsonRT) Height:6-foot-2|Weight:237 poundsAccolades/notable statistics: 2022 first-team All-SEC; 1,714 scrimmage yards in 2022 (led SEC, ninth-most in FBS)Rick Spielman's comp: "I like his size. He runs a lot of the pistol formation. He's very patient, very good run vision. He picks and slides his way through a hole. Very good body lean, hard to knock him off his feet. He has good speed, but he's not electric. He had a long touchdown in the Ole Mi s game. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. I liked him because of his size, and he's more than willing in pa s-protection. This is physical, workhorse back, but he does need enough carries to get lathered up in a game. He's not going to have 80-yard runs in two plays. He's the type of back where the more you give him the ball, the more he wears out a defense because of his size and physicality."Ryan Wilson's comp: Joe Mixon/T.J. Yeldon "He's not fun to tackle. I think he's a really good football player. He doesn't have the juice to turn the corner like Blake Corum, but he's a completely different body type. That's not his game. He brings a different element to the backfield. I have him as a on the high end or on the low end." Games to circle:vs. Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium (Sept. 30), at Alabama (Oct. Blank Jersey 14)Draft range:Second or third roundFinal thoughtsRaheim Sanders is ma sive, standing at 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, but he's much lighter and nimble on his feet than his dimensions would suggest. His production isn't simply three yards and a cloud of dust: Sanders rushed for more than 1,443 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in 2022 while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He's not the most explosive player off the line, but his acceleration into the second level is scary for a player of his stature.If he can improve at being even more decisive and quick at the line of scrimmage, Sanders could see his stock soar for the 2024 . Raheim Sanders is a sturdy bell cow with a forward leaning downhill running styleRockets versatile and can be positioned all over the field defenders just fall off this guyMy 2024 RB1 Joe OLeary (@TheHQNerd) Height:5-foot-10|Weight:214 poundsAccolades/notable statistics:2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten; Ohio State record holder for most touchdowns scored by a freshman (19, 15 rushing and four receiving); 1,248 rushing yards as a freshman in 2021 (second-most in school history); 270 rushing yards vs. Tulsa in 2021 (freshman single-game school record); 6.8 yards per carry in 2021 (led Big Ten, sixth-most in FBS); only played eight games in 2022 because of foot injuryRick Spielman's comp: "In 2021, there was no question that this guy was going to be a first-round pick. Last year, he had a foot injury, but he's a quick runner. He has great vision and runs with a low pad level and center of gravity. He can make quick cuts in the hole. He's patient. I don't know if he has the home run speed. He did have a 41-yard touchdown run against Penn State. He's a very patient runner. Only six targets, I believe in 2022, but his hands on those six targets seemed good enough. That's something you want to find out. He has to stay healthy and show what he showed in 2021. He needs work on his pa s-blocking technique, but a lot of these guys in college are that way because of the amount of practice time. My comp is former Ohio State Buckeye and now-Baltimore RB JK Dobbins. They have very similar skillsets." Ryan Wilson's comp: "Low center of gravity runner, doesn't run too upright. He is smaller shorter , so that helps. Has a little burst through the hole, did create a lot on his own in the backfield. He doesn't add much as a receiver, but I don't know if that means he can't do it or if he just isn't asked to do it. I went with Cam Akers because of a similar size. I thought Cam Akers had to do more with le s.Games to circle:vs. Penn State (Oct. 21), at Michigan (Nov. 25)Draft range:Second or third roundFinal thoughtsTreyVeyon Henderson has the tools to be the 2024 NFL Draft's top running back. The nation's top-rated running back recruit out of the 2021 cla s appeared to be well on his way to that crown after a dominant freshman year. He's great at getting low and rumbling ahead for hidden yards. However, when watching his tape, there were a few examples of Henderson being caught and dragged down just before he could break off a monster run.He needs to show he can remain healthy as a junior as well as add a little extra kick to elevate his runs from a nice eight yards to breakaways in the open field at a higher rate. If Henderson can do those things, he'll be ranked a lot higher at his position come April. Untouched. 57 yards. showed off the speed on his 17th TD of the season. Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) Height:6-foot-2|Weight:240 poundsAccolades/notable statistics:2022 second-team All-Big Ten; 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl Offensive MVP (116 rush yards, 1 rush TD on 22 carries); four career runs of 70+ yards (T-most in Big Ten since 2021, second-most in Wisconsin history behind five such runs)Rick Spielman's comp: "My comp is a poor man's Derrick Henry-style. He's the only back that size that I could come up with. Allen isn't as explosive as Derrick Henry, but he goes forward on contact like Henry because of the size. Probably not as fast as Derrick Henry, but his run style reminded me of Derrick Henry."Ryan Wilson's comp: AJ Dillon/Qadree Ollison "He's not particularly twitched-up or shifty, but he's more bull than ballerina. He's not going to outrun NFL defenders to the edge. He's a one-cut and go guy. He consistently gets his pad-level low. He likes to truck would-be tacklers. Explodes through the hole through tacklers, and then he can rip off long runs. I went with out of Boston College on Matt Garza Jersey the high end and out of Pitt on the low end. I think Dillon is similarly athletic to Allen."Games to circle:at Illinois (Oct. 21), vs. Ohio State (Oct. 28)Draft range:Second or third roundFinal thoughtsBraelon Allen's 416 carries and 2,510 rushing yards are the most among returning Power Five running backs entering 2023, but the wear and tear isn't an i sue as he's only 19-years-old. The most astounding element of Allen's gigantic production is he totaled consecutive seasons with 1,200 or more rush yards while Wisconsin saw eight or more defenders in the box on 61.4% of its carries in 2022. That was the fourth-highest rate in all of , trailing only Army, Navy, and Air Force -- teams that aren't too familiar with the concept of the forward pa s. Allen could be in line for his most productive season yet with new offensive coordinator Phil Longo bringing an Air-Raid offense up to Madison from North Carolina. His anticipation and vision at the line of scrimmage are some of the best in the nation, as he hits the hole right as it's opening up at high frequency, allowing him to gain the most amount of yards po sible on a play. Even though he could easily lean on his overpowering frame to win most of his battles at the line of scrimmage, Allen's agility shines through plenty when aggre sively bursting through an opening. His anticipation and frame could power him to the top of his position's draft board as he'll likely enter his NFL rookie season as a 20-year-old. 96 YARDS. x Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) Height:5-foot-8|Weight:210 poundsAccolades/notable statistics: 2022 consensus All-American; 2022 Doak Walker Award finalist; 2022 Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year (first in Michigan history); 2022 consensus first-team All-Big Ten; five rush TD vs. UConn in 2022 (T-most touchdowns in a single game in Michigan history); 19 scrimmage TD in 2022 (T-fifth-most in FBS)Rick Spielman's comp: "You look at the production on the field more than the size, but you understand 5-foot-7, 5-foot-8 may have some i sues pa s-blocking. Some short running backs have had very productive careers. I thought this guy was the quickest stop-start guy out of anyone in the draft. He's great at dropping his weight to elude in space. The contact balance is nice. Very good running back. He is short. His hands are good enough. He's a checkdown or screens player because he's so small, not as available downfield. He's a quick, explosive athlete. I just want to see what his speed is. I would compare him to Kenneth Walker III.Ryan Wilson's comp: "He plays much bigger than his size. He's a bowling ball in the true sense of the word. Small catch-radius, but he's not going to be pushed around. He has kick return ability. He's built low to the ground with quick lateral movements. He can cut on the dime, and it usually takes multiple defenders to bring him down. He has good hands as a receiver, and he immediately becomes a returner in space after the catch in the quick game. I think he brings a lot as a playmaker, both running and receiving, and he's dangerous out in space. Games to circle:at Penn State (Nov. 11), vs. Ohio State (Nov. 25)Draft range:Second or third roundFinal thoughtsBlake Corum's ability to keep his feet moving, cut, and explode on a dime are reminiscent of the way operated in his prime with the . Corum has the best improvisational running skills of any running back in this cla s entering the 2023 season, but what makes his cuts so devastating are the suddenne s with which they occur. Once Corum makes that jump-cut, he usually has nothing but green gra s in front of him.All he has to do to maintain the top running back spot in the 2024 NFL Draft is stay healthy. Corum suffered a sprained MCL against Illinois that ended his season the following week against Ohio State. He needed to undergo surgery to fix it. His burst is some of the best in the nation, as his 15 runs of 20 or more yards were tied for the seventh-most in . If Corum can continue to showcase his trademark agility and acceleration, he'll be the first running back to hear his name called in 2024. Any time is a good time to watch a highlight Michigan Football (@UMichFootball)
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