2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Michael Pratt, Tulane

Tulane’s Michal Pratt enters the NFL draft

Michael Pratt became a freshman starter at Tulane after three games that season and remained there for the next three years. He enters the draft as one of the most experienced quarterbacks. Pratt was relatively durable, missing only a couple of games because of a sprained knee to start the 2023 season. He played in 11 games but never appeared totally healthy, even though he led them to the AAC Championship game for the second straight season.

Pratt ended his time with Tulane as their all-time passing leader and opted out of their bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. He’s improved during his four years as a starter. But he’s also entering the NFL draft in a year considered to have a very strong quarterback class. Pratt is expected to hear his name called on Day 3 when teams want to add to their depth.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.65 seconds

Table: Michael Pratt NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2020 Tulane 10 115 229 8 254 140 1806 12.9 20 8
2021 Tulane 12 105 154 5 329 190 2390 12.6 21 8
2022 Tulane 13 129 478 10 338 215 3009 14.0 27 5
2023 Tulane 11 98 286 5 283 185 2406 13.0 22 5
Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Solid build for a pocket passer
  • Capable scorer at the goal line with 28 rushing touchdowns at Tulane
  • Superior mechanics when he throws, even when passing off-platform
  • Quick feet and solid balance makes him hard to sack
  • Adequate arm strength to hit all short, intermediate and sideline passes
  • Tough player and highly competitive – was unquestioned team leader for the last three years.

Cons

  • Some inaccuracy on deeper throws and outside of the numbers
  • Lacks elite arm strength
  • Plenty of rushes in college, but lacks the quickness and change-of-direction to be a true dual threat
  • Intelligent, but played in an offense that wasn’t that sophisticated or required him to make rapid, high-level decisions so he’ll face more complexity in the NFL
  • Tended to hold onto the ball too long and needs work on knowing when to get rid of the ball

Fantasy outlook

Pratts is only expected to be an NFL backup and while he’s been good in almost all areas, he hasn’t been elite in any of them. But he’s been solid at Tulane playing within their system, and he could continue to improve in the NFL.

His best quality is that he can step in and help an NFL team, and as a deeply drafted quarterback, he’ll come at a very low price. He’ll remain well outside of immediate fantasy value, and will need to continue to grow and land in the right spot for his future to become brighter.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Ainias Smith brings a versatile and dangerous set of skills to the NFL

Ainias Smith committed to Texas A&M after filling many roles at high school in Sugar Land, Texas. He was used equally as a running back and wide receiver, plus returned kicks and punts and even threw 27 passes along the way. He also played some free safety and cornerback as one of those talented players that prompt coaches into saying, “how else can we use this guy?”

Smith played minimally as a freshman while playing in a dual role. In 2020, he was officially switched to being a running back where he was given five to ten carries in most games, along with three to five receptions. His 43 receptions, even as a running back, led the Aggies.

He switched back to being primarily a wideout as a junior when his 47 catches again paced the team. He then fractured his right leg after five games in 2022 and missed the rest of the season. He accounted for more than a quarter of the Aggies total offense at the time he was injured.

The fifth-year senior again led the team in receiving last year but was limited to only five carries. He wrapped up his career as a versatile weapon for the Aggies while playing through injuries and contending with inconsistent play from their quarterbacks.

Height: 5-9
Weight: 190 pounds
40 time: 4.5 seconds estimated

Smith’s measurements at the NFL Combine saw him even smaller than the Aggies had stated. He weighed in ten pounds less at 190 and was only 5-9. He was also diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left shin and held himself out of all of the drills. He is expected to be a Day 3 selection.

Table: Ainias Smith NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2019 Texas A&M 12 22 248 11.3 3 7 54 0
2020 Texas A&M 10 43 564 13.1 6 49 293 4
2021 Texas A&M 12 47 509 10.8 6 8 26 0
2022 Texas A&M 4 15 291 19.4 2 3 11 0
2023 Texas A&M 12 53 75 15.0 2 5 21 0
Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  •  Versatile play-maker for the Aggies who can fit into an NFL offense looking for a special weapon. Very coachable and can do anything.
  • Excellent vision in open field – homerun ability when he has the ball.
  • Diverse talent set allow him to contribute in many ways. Can run, receive, and return. Likely will be an immediate return man.
  • Adequate pass protection and willing run blocker who is better than most his size.
  • Shifty and elusive. Superior start-stop ability aids yards after catch.

Cons

  • Seemed to lose top-end acceleration after his broken leg in 2022, but hopes that he’s completely recovered for 2024. Stress fracture at the combine doesn’t help.
  • Smaller size and injury history prompts durability concerns.
  • Small catch radius
  • Quicker than fast
  • Lacks the size and strength to land contested catches

Fantasy outlook

The rookie prospects for Ainias Smith are limited. He’s a player that will have much more NFL value for his team than reliable fantasy value. As with most players that enter the NFL with a diverse set of skills, Smith may not fit into a specific role enough for the volume needed to matter in fantasy.

Smith is worth tracking and is likely a Day 3 pick, so he could land anywhere. Until his role is clear and proven on his new team, he’ll be hard pressed to show up much as a rookie, though his ability to return kicks and punts could make him much more valuable.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Jase McClellan, Alabama

Jase McClellan led the Alabama backfield last year.

Jase McClellan spent all four seasons with the Crimson Tide, trying to break through the well-stocked backfield. As a freshman, he was behind Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.. He gained steam to start his junior season with Harris gone and Robinson sharing the load but tore his ACL after five games.

When he returned for his junior season, he was second only to Jahmyr Gibbs and ended that year on a higher note with a string of 12+ carry games including 156 yards and two scores against Austin Peay. He finally led the backfield as a senior in 2023 when he ran for 890 yards and gained 137 yards as a receiver. He was still a part of a committee with his 180 rushes, along with Roydell Williams (111). Quarterback Jalen Milroe also ran the ball 161 times.

Height: 5-10
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.5 seconds

McClellan didn’t do anything to set himself apart in the NFL Combine and declined running the 40-yard dash where he was expected to turn in a 4.5-ish timing. He’s the right size for the position and carries the cachet of being from Alabama, but is expected to be picked up in the final rounds of the NFL draft by a team seeking to beef up their backfield depth with a chance of gaining a committee member.

Table: Jase McClellan NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD
2020 Alabama 12 23 245 10.7 2 1 1 0
2021 Alabama 5 40 191 4.8 1 10 97 3
2022 Alabama 13 112 655 5.8 7 14 174 3
2023 Alabama 13 180 890 4.9 8 15 137 0

 

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Determined runner that gets all the yardage that was blocked and finishes runs to pick up the extra yards
  • Excellent vision combines with smart running to pick the right lanes and can cut through traffic. Good fit for a one-cut rushing scheme
  • Patient runner that follows the blocks to daylight
  • Capable receiver with the biggest hands among running backs at the NFL Combine
  • Has the size and strength to be a power rusher that can break tackles and handle inside rushing
  • Tough runner not afraid of contact

Cons

  • Lacks explosiveness, more of a power runner through contact than a speed rusher looking for long gains
  • Pass protection still needs work, needs more aggression as a blocker
  • Work as a receiver was limited to very basic routes from the backfield
  • Durability concerns after a torn ACL and other dings in college

Fantasy outlook

McClellan offers an intriguing set of skills later in the draft. As with all ‘Bama backs, assessing them is harder since they benefit from a dominant O-line and yet compete for carries against other elite backs in the ever-stocked backfield. While impacted by injuries, he had to wait for his turn as the primary until he was a senior.

He can add to any NFL roster and with an expectation of being taken sometime in Day 3, he is available to any NFL team seeking to bolster their depth.  McClellan will need to work his way up the depth chart before he can offer any reliable fantasy value, but in the right situation, he can become a weekly contributor. He’s not expected to become the primary back for a team, but has enough skills and potential that he is worth tracking.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina

Legette may only had one big year, but he brings all the tools to become a starter in the NFL.

Xavier Legette was ranked as a 3-star recruit by ESPN when he left high school and signed with South Carolina, where he only saw marginal work for his first four seasons – only a combined 42 receptions along with a handful of kick returns. He remained as a fifth-year senior and enjoyed a breakout season as the primary receiver for quarterback Spencer Rattler.

Legette went from a little-used depth receiver to catching almost double the amount of passes of any other Gamecock receiver. His seven touchdowns also led the entire team. Had he not played in 2023, Legette lacked the draft value with such a sparse resume. After posting 1,255 yards last year, he’s now expected to be taken on Day 2 with a chance of sneaking into the end of the first round. Most draft boards list him as being between the sixth and tenth rated wide receiver.

Height: 6-1
Weight: 221 pounds
40 time: 4.39 seconds

He’s a size and speed mismatch that always plays well in the NFL.  Legette is a very solid 6-1 and 221 pounds, and yet ran a 4.39 40-time at the NFL Combine, one of only eight receivers that clocked sub 4.4 40-times. He’s a tick older at 23 years, but doesn’t carry the level of experience that his age may normally suggest.

Table: Xavier Legette NCAA stats (2019-23)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2019 South Carolina 11 9 80 8.9 1 0 0 0
2020 South Carolina 6 7 113 16.1 0 0 0 0
2021 South Carolina 11 8 63 7.9 1 0 0 0
2022 South Carolina 13 18 167 9.3 3 7 21 0
2023 South Carolina 12 71 1255 17.7 7 9 -9 0
Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Physical attributes tick every box for a prototypical starting wideout in the NFL
  • Elite speed-size ratio that makes him a threat all over the field and can control his high-end throttle to distance himself from defenders
  • Tremendous hands and catch radius makes him a very friendly target for the quarterback
  • Run-after-catch upside with both speed and and influencing the defender with cuts and fakes
  • Makes contested catches using his size and strength, and highpoints making use of his height
  • Strong hands for ball security during and after the catch
  • Good run blocker

Cons

  • Considered faster than quick which will be challenged by press coverage in the NFL
  • Needs more development and polish after only one season of any note during his five years at South Carolina
  • More of a vertical receiver so success will be more scheme-dependent

Fantasy outlook

Xavier Legette rates as a Top-10 talent for wideouts in this draft. That means that he’ll be expensive for his new team and will be selected to quickly develop into a starter. He has all the attributes and measurements of a successful receiver, but he is the rare 23-year-old rookie wideout with just one breakout season to his credit. His speed and size combination will draw plenty of attention and should since he has the promise of being a valuable addition to a vertical passing scheme.

He’s been linked to the Giants in their perpetual quest to land a viable receiver, the Panthers who need help beyond the recently acquired Diontae Johnson, and the Bengals who are likely to move on from Tee Higgins. Cincinnati would be a great spot given the presence of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase to draw the most attention. Legette may take time to reach his optimal value, but he brings some experience and plenty of potential.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Bo Nix, Oregon

Nix is a first-round talent that will be taken as a future franchise player.

Bo Nix is one of the rare college players who started for five full seasons between two major college programs.  Nix was rated as the best dual-threat quarterback coming out of high school and signed up to play for Auburn as their starter and won the SEC’s Freshman of the Year in 2019.

Nix played the next two years in Auburn, and suffered a season-ending injury in 2021 after ten games. He announced that he would enter the transfer portal, saying that he was unhappy playing under the new Auburn head coach, Bryan Harsin,  in 2021.

Thanks to the fifth-year added to eligibility from the COVID years, Nix went on to play two more seasons at Oregon where he posted his best years. He was a Heisman finalist and broke Mac Jones record for the highest single-season completion percentage at 77.45%. Nix ended with a total of 15,352 passing yards (sixth in NCAA history) and 108 passing scores. He also ran for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 214 pounds
40 time: 4.60 seconds estimated

Nix threw at the NFL combine but did not participate in the timed drills. He was the highest-rated quarterback who did throw. He remains a first-round value but most likely to be drafted fourth or fifth among quarterbacks.

Table: Bo Nix NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2019 Auburn 13 97 313 7 377 217 2542 11.7 16 6
2020 Auburn 11 108 388 7 357 214 2415 11.3 12 7
2021 Auburn 10 57 168 4 323 197 2294 11.7 11 3
2022 Oregon 13 89 510 14 409 294 3593 12.2 29 7
2023 Oregon 14 54 234 6 470 364 4508 12.4 45 3
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Very mature and experienced 24-year-old. Showed continual improvement as a passer.
  • Superior athlete with dangerous skills as a runner and underneath passer.
  • Dual-threat that combined pinpoint passing with the ability to move the sticks with his legs on any play.
  • “Quarterback fast” and superior quickness picks up the initial yards when he runs.
  • Highly mobile with elite pocket awareness which makes him tough to sack. Creates opportunities when he breaks from the pocket.
  • Open-field rushing ability forces defense to account for him breaking free on a run.
  • Already accomplished at reading defenses, influencing the coverages and delivering highly accurate strikes.

Cons

  • Will sometimes telegraph his primary read which will be penalized against NFL secondaries.
  • Decision-making still needs work, particularly when hurried by  pass rushers that force him off-script and into making quick decisions between where to throw or if to run.
  • Coachable, but has played best within a system  where he has reduced need to improvise. Has tended to throw more short passes, particularly under pressure.
  • Comes from a program in Oregon that was predicated on throwing screens, Run-Pass Options and short-to-intermediate passes which account for his high completion rate. Less experienced in vertical schemes.

Fantasy outlook

Even in this quarterback-rich draft, Nix is expected to be called in Round One. Despite his extensive playing time and stats in college, he’s still needs more development and would best fit into any of the West Coast variant schemes that move the ball primarily on RPO’s in a very structured offense. His rushing ability puts him ahead of most other rookie quarterbacks.

Still, he is expected to be taken no higher than the fourth or fifth quarterback selected. That’s still first round and he’ll be selected to become a starter sooner than later. He’s been linked to teams like the Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders. Spots where he may not be the Week 1 starter, but could take over at some point this season with an eye towards a bigger playoff as the fulltime starter in 2025.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas

Sanders will not be drafted for his blocking skills – he’s a pass catcher and one of the best in this draft.

Ja’Tavion Sanders was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and joined the Texas Longhorns where he only saw action in three games as a freshman and caught no passes. The Longhorns were run-heavy that year with Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson and only wideout Xavier Worthy (62) managed to catch more than 24 passes that year.

As a sophomore, Sanders became a starter and was second only to Worthy (60) in receptions with 54 catches. His five scores were second only to Worthy. As a junior, he caught 45 passes while Worthy (75) and Adonai Mitchell (55) were also instrumental in the Longhorn’s passing scheme. All three players are in the 2024 NFL draft and the two wideouts are expected to be early calls.

Sanders declared for the NFL draft and posted a respectable 4.69 40-time at the NFL combine, along with prototypical size and weight for a receiving tight end.

Height: 6-3
Weight: 245 pounds
40 time: 4.69 seconds

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Table: Ja’Tavion Sanders NCAA stats (2021-23)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2021 Texas 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 Texas 13 54 613 11.4 5 0 0 0
2023 Texas 14 45 682 682 2 1 12 0

Pros

  • Works well in traffic using size
  • Run after catch posts big gains in a vertical passing attack
  • Too fast to be covered by a linebacker
  • Strong hands that almost never drops passes or fumbles
  • Plus-level downfield blocker
  • Smooth route runner
  • Already familiar with multiple alignments
  • Reliable target that highpoints the ball well

Cons

  • More of a receiver than a blocker could limit to just role work
  • Needs work as a run blocker
  • Still needs development after only two playing years in college

Fantasy outlook

Ja’Tavion Sanders projects as a Day 2 pick and potentially the second tight end selected after Brock Bowers is tabbed early in the first round. Sanders is a receiving threat and should end up with a team looking to expand their passing scheme to include the tight end. He’s been likened to the Bills’ Dalton Kincaid and the Cardinals’ Trey McBride.

Taken in Round 2 means that his new team has every intention of integrating him as quickly as possible into the passing equation. Potential landing spots include the Colts who’ll be re-introducing quarterback Anthony Richardson, the Chargers who lost virtually every notable receiver including Gerald Everett, and the Saints. He could also end up on a team that already has a strong tight end but are interested in developing Sanders to take over in the future like the 49ers, Texans, or even the Chiefs.

Sanders higher cost in the NFL draft will most likely send him to a team that wants payoff next year, if not 2024. This is considered a deeper draft for tight ends than most, and recent rookie tight ends have shown that the position is more valued and a better opportunity even in their first season.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas

Pure speed.

Don’t blink.

You might miss Xavier Worthy running the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. The ex-Longhorn wideout posted a 4.25 40-time in his initial attempt and then jogged past previous record holder John Ross by running a 4.21. The old record had stood since 2017.

If you ever have the chance to break an all-time record in anything, ideally it should be while compared to the best talent and in front of every potential employer. It marks as the highlight of the 2024 NFL Combine.

Worthy went to high school in Fresno, California and originally committed to the University of Michigan before changing over to the University of Texas. He wasted no time in making his mark, posting school freshman records with 981 yards and 12 touchdowns. He went on to earn All-Big-12 honors in all three seasons, peaking with 75 catches for 1,014 yards as a junior. He announced that he would enter the NFL draft instead of playing out his senior season.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 pounds
40 time: 4.21 seconds

Worthy’s knock, same as virtually every other speedster is his size and more so his weight that was lower than expectations when he weighed 165 pounds at the combine. He had been listed officially as 172 pounds at Texas.

In the last five seasons, there were only two wide receivers with any fantasy value that were as light as Worthy. DeVonta Smith (6-0, 170) and Tank Dell (5-10, 165). Smith has always been an outlier for a thinly built receiver, even while he starred at Alabama. Dell is listed at the same weight and fell to the third round in the 2023 NFL draft. Also notable, Dell missed a game with a concussion and then later suffered a broken leg in Week 11 in his only NFL  season.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2021 Texas 12 62 981 15.8 12 1 7 0
2022 Texas 13 60 760 12.7 9 2 14 0
2023 Texas 14 75 1014 13.5 5 4 35 0
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Very, very fast
  • Very, very quick
  • Uses speed to his advantage with start-stop and explosive burst
  •  Instant breakout as freshman and delivered every year
  • Not just a deep threat, runs routes at all three levels
  • Willing blocker despite size
  • Elite body control, balance and ball tracking
  • Scored twice during 40 punt returns in college
  • Highly competitive
  • Only 21 years old

Cons

  • Light frame works against him in contested catches
  • Prone to concentration drops
  • May struggle against NFL-level press coverage
  • Hand strength concerns on ball security and contact with ground
  • Weight-height ratio causes durability considerations

Fantasy outlook

Worthy led the Longhorns in receiving yards for all three seasons, though his teammate Adonai Mitchell (6-2, 205) also expected to be highly drafted and was slightly higher on many draft boards. Worthy’s triumphant 40-time is now expected to get him past  Mitchell and may even sneak into the first round of this receiver-rich draft. Post-combine, Worthy is considered a Top-10 wideout and his draft slot depends on a team looking for a speedy receiver to fit their needs.

The only two comparable in size with Worthy are DeVonta Smith and Tank Dell. Smith is slightly larger and exceeded expectations as the No. 2 receiver in the Eagles’ passing scheme. Dell is a better parallel in that they are the same weight. He was an emerging star in Houston but was concussed and later broke his leg after only 47 catches.

It always relies on where a receiver lands and the quarterback that he will be paired with, along with the immediate receiving needs of his new team. Until that becomes clear, expect him to offer a field-stretching target as a rookie in likely a No. 3 role. The benefits of his speed compared against his potential size limitations suggest a great later pick in Best Ball formats where the occasional big game compensates for mostly low to moderate weekly output.

Worthy should offer fantasy value as a rookie, and while it is rare for someone as light as he is to become a weekly fantasy consideration, it is not without precedent. That makes him a target even in redraft leagues looking for position depth that may surprise. But that eye-popping 4.21 40-time can be overvalued. The other sub-4.3 wideouts were J.J. Nelson, Tyrone Calico, Marquise Goodwin, Jerome Mathis, and John Ross. Not exactly a Hall of Fame grouping.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Blake Corum, Michigan

Corum brings elite rushing skills and a winning attitude

The prized high-school recruit from Maryland opted to play for the Michigan Wolverines where he he headed up an elite rushing attack and made a name for himself as one of the best backs in the country.  He broke their all-time record for rushing touchdowns while playing under Jim Harbaugh who has also moved this year by heading up the Los Angeles Chargers.

After two seasons of part-time play, Corum became the Wolverine’s  starting running back with spectacular results. After piling up almost 1,500 rushing yards as a junior, he again shined during the their campaign to win the National Championship ending a tick below with 1,245 rushing yards but upped his scoring total to 28 touchdowns on the season. He ended his college career by rushing for 134 yards on 21 carries for two scores against Washington to become the 2024 College Football National Championship MVP.

Height: 5-8
Weight: 213 pounds
40 time: 4.53 seconds

Corum is only 5-8, but put on a show at the NFL Combine where he led all backs with 27 reps in the bench press, ran a solid 4.53 40-time, and added to his volume of highlight reels from the last two seasons.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-23)RB

Year School Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD
2020 Michigan 6 26 77 3.0 2 5 73 0
2021 Michigan 12 144 952 6.6 11 24 141 1
2022 Michigan 12 247 1463 5.9 18 11 80 1
2023 Michigan 15 258 1245 4.8 27 16 117 1
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Superior vision combined with deadly jump cuts
  • Strong runner that runs through arm tackles
  • Tremendous burst  makes him capable of chunk plays
  • Elite decision-making skills for picking lanes and slipping through traffic
  • Gym rat with rare combination of strength and speed
  • High character guy with a winning attitude
  • Smart player who also won academic honors at Michigan
  • A backfield asset regardless of scheme

Cons

  • Smaller size at 5-8 brings durability concerns; already suffered a meniscus tear to end 2022.
  • Marginal use as a receiver in college
  • Questions regarding pass protection may limit third downs
  • Likely better fit in a committee and lacks the size for short yardage work.
  • Will turn 24 during the season

Fantasy outlook

Corum was a beast for the Wolverines and instrumental in their success the last two seasons including that National Championship Offensive MVP in January.  He doesn’t project as an every down back due to his size and potential injury concerns but he brings a skillset that will add to any offense. He’s more likely a Day 2 pick and may slide a little further if his previous knee issues and size cause concern.

The natural assumption is that he’d fit great with the Chargers who switch to HC Jim Harbaugh who already knows how to use him. Adding him as a complement to a back like Austin Ekeler should create a formidable 1-2 punch. He’s been speculated to end up with the Cardinals, Packers, Titans, or Bills. But he’d be a fit regardless of franchise because he brings a set of skills that would benefit any team, and that’s furthered by his intelligence and maturity. And falling out of the first round, if not the second, means any team could access him.

He brings a big name to the NFL after winning a National Championship and that could see him overvalued by some in the fantasy community. He should provide fantasy value as a rookie in a role that may expand during the season, but he’s unlikely to be asked to step in and take over a backfield. Corum has elite rushing skills but has to match them weekly against players that were college all-stars and remain healthy.