Here are four running back prospects who could be on the board when the Bills pick 54th in April.
The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks No. 54 overall.
Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select.
This position-by-position series will take a look at several realistic options of players who may be available for the team to select.
First, the series will take a view of the running back position:
Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Current roster
The Bills are fairly confident they have their No. 1 running back, or at least their 1A, in Devin Singletary. In his rookie season, Singletary wrestled the starting job away from Frank Gore. With no prospective player on the roster who could steal snaps from Singletary, it may be through the draft that Buffalo finds its complementary piece to Singletary. Other backs on the Bills’ current roster includes TJ Yeldon and special teamer Taiwan Jones.
Cam Akers was a high school quarterback and running back that scored a total of 149 touchdowns and totaled 13,243 yards. A highly-coveted five-star recruit out of Clinton High School in Mississippi, Akers became the starter at Florida State in his first year. He set the team freshman record when he rushed for 1,025 yards in 2017 and broke Dalvin Cook’s record of 1,008 rushing yards.
Akers was the primary back for all three seasons, though his junior season was his busiest and saw him with his heaviest workload of 231 carries and 30 receptions. He turned in 18 touchdowns last season and declared for the NFL draft instead of returning for his senior year.
Akers carries all the physical attributes to succeed in the NFL. He was limited at Florida State by a poor offensive line and a team that ended with records of 7-6, 5-7 and 6-7 while he played there. He was afforded just five games with more than 20 carries in his busiest season and produced six 100-yard rushing efforts. Akers was a dynamic back playing on an average team.
Year
Games
Runs
Yards
Avg.
TD
Catch
Yards.
TD
Total Yards
Total TDs
2017
13
194
1025
5.3
7
16
116
1
1141
8
2018
12
161
706
4.4
6
23
145
2
851
8
2019
11
231
1144
5.0
14
30
225
4
1369
18
Pros
Powerful back that initiates contact
Determined if not violent runner that can be a workhorse
Elusive in the open field and shows great balance even after contact
Shows surprising burst for his size
Durable with no significant injuries
Great with short yardage, falls forward
A natural receiver that can run most routes
Has a second gear that can score on any play
Better at inside rushing but has a deadly jump cut
Three down ability – no need to take him off the field
Mature with a high character
Cons
Will need work in pass protection
Had some fumbling issues while struggling for more yardage
Would try to do too much at times and left yards on the field trying to be too creative
Fantasy outlook
Akers should end up as a second to third-round pick. He projects as a feature back in the NFL though he’ll need at least a season to get used to playing at the higher level. Akers was limited by poor blocking in each of his seasons and the offensive scheme was never very successful in any phase. Akers was a player who was better than almost all of his surrounding team.
Akers is a downhill runner that is best with one-cut and go. His offensive line caused problems and he could be surprising in the NFL if he ends up playing behind superior blockers. Most of his negatives have come from trying to do too much in an offense that didn’t do him many favors.
So long as he controls his ball security and steps up as a pass blocker, there’s no reason why Akers shouldn’t evolve into a feature back. He could be a starter in Week 1, depending on where he lands.
He’ll offer fantasy value this season and beyond. He could be a sleeper depending on the blocking and scheme of his new team. He’s already been a standout playing on a very average team. He has the potential to be a fantasy starter from the start.
Five-star running back Cam Akers was highly-recruited out of Mississippi’s Clinton High School and the top RB in the nation in 2017.
When Akers came to FSU, he had big shoes to fill — those of Dalvin Cook, who went on to be drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 draft. Akers may not have lived up to Cook’s numbers, due in part to a porous offensive line and overall team performance, but he did break his predecessor’s freshman rushing record with 1,024 yards and seven touchdowns.
The multi-talented RB finished his Seminoles career with 2,875 yards rushing on 586 attempts for 4.9 yards per carry and 27 TDs. He tacked onto that 486 yards receiving and seven scores.
The Steelers need to address the running back position in the 2020 draft. James Conner is in the final season of his contract and one injury away from not getting an extension. The fact that he hasn’t played a full season since being drafted does not bode well for him.
Jaylen Samuels nor Benny Snell, Jr., have shown they have what it takes to be “the guy”. Akers has just the body of work to lead the run attack and, in certain situations, can be used in special plays as a passer to throw off the opposition.
Akers is being projected as the No. 4 RB in the draft meaning the Steelers would have to take him with their first pick (49).
Check out the results of this new mock draft as the Cardinals land the top cornerback in the draft.
We have another full mock draft simulation to try and see how different scenarios might play out for the Arizona Cardinals. In this latest simulation, one top defensive player unexpectedly falls to the Cardinals with the eighth overall pick in the draft.
And as a result of how things work out in the first two rounds, the Cardinals don’t end up with any offensive linemen.
Here is how the mock draft resulted.
Round 1: Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In my rankings of the players the Cardinals could take eighth overall, Okudah doesn’t make the list, but only because the assumption was he wouldn’t be available. However, the top two players I would take would be Chase Young and Okudah. Okudah sets the Cardinals up nicely at cornerback for the present and future. The potential shutdown corner could allow the Cardinals to trade Patrick Peterson or to pair the two with Byron Murphy for a dominant trio of corners.
If he is available, there is no debating this pick. Although the need is low, you never pass on a shutdown cornerback when he is also the best player on the board.
The Broncos met with FSU running back Cam Akers at the NFL combine last month.
The Denver Broncos met with Florida State running back Cam Akers at the NFL combine last month, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.
Akers (5-10, 217 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 20 times at the combine. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared him to Duke Johnson, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2015 draft.
“He can be Leg 1 or 2 of a tandem rushing attack and is one of the more natural runners in the draft,” Zierlein wrote of Akers.
During his three years at FSU, Akers rushed for 2,875 yards and 27 touchdowns and totaled 486 receiving yards and with seven touchdown receptions.
Everything NFL draft fans should know about Florida State running back prospect Cam Akers
Cam Akers | RB | Florida State
Elevator Pitch
Akers was a highly touted prospect out of Mississippi when he signed with the Florida State Seminoles. Despite the inconsistency at the offensive line, Akers has been able to showcase his abilities and is now one of the top running backs in the upcoming draft class.
Akers shows good burst to fly through the hole when he gets the ball in his hands. He shows good vision for finding open holes behind the line. When the defense penetrates the line, shows the ability to cut back come out the other side. His footwork allows him to make split decisions which turn negative plays into positive ones.
Runs from a good base, with a powerful lower half. Uses his leg power to bounce off would be tackles with great contact balance. Can use his jump cut well for a quick change of direction with little to no loss in momentum. Rare to find a defender take down Akers on the first tackle attempt.
He is more than capable as a receiver, so with Akers you get a dual-threat runner and receiver. Much like when he carries the ball, he will be a threat to take it the distance when he gets into the open field. Scored seven touchdowns as a receiver for the Seminoles. Not just a back to get a dump off in the flats, can excel when asked to run the wheel.
Weaknesses
One of the reasons that will cause teams to be lower on Akers is that he has issues with protecting the football. While his fumble rate isn’t terribly high, Akers averages one fumble every 65.5 touches. His 10 fumbles in three seasons will be cause for concern about him protecting the football.
In terms of being an every down back at the NFL level, Akers needs to work on his pass protection. He will be a liability in protection until he works on his technique and understanding who he is responsible for. Given his size and frame, he definitely has the tools to be a consistent blocker. Being coached up will be key for him.
James Johnson and Phil Smith discuss all of the news that came from the 2020 Combine surrounding the Jags.
With the 2020 NFL Combine now in the books, plenty came out of Indy about the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and I covered all of it in episode five of “Bleav in the Jags.”
This week, we started with Yannick Ngakoue’s desire to leave the Jags as he came out on social media to say he doesn’t want a long-term deal with the franchise. Afterward, they tagged him and now we’re in wait and see mode in terms of the outcome.
Next, we went on to discuss the rumor of Nick Foles being on the trade block and why it’s likely true.
Lastly, we discussed some players the Jags met with at the 2020 NFL Combine. We also looked at some of the strengths and weaknesses of those players and exactly how they would fit in with the Jags.
12 standout prospects on offense from the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine for the Buffalo Bills to consider drafting.
We started off our combine standouts pegged for the Bills defense, but now let’s get to the fun part… the offense.
Buffalo’s offense could stand to use plenty of help all over the place. Playmakers will be a big-time need for the Bills, but the trenches and in the backfield also can’t be overlooked.
Here are 12 offensive prospects who impressed at the combine that the Bills could consider adding at the upcoming draft:
At 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, Chase Claypool was already certainly on the Bills’ draft radar even if he didn’t put up the most prolific numbers at Notre Dame. But his size now comes with some documented speed after the combine. That big body moved the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. Per NFL Research, Claypool and Calvin Johnson are the only wide receivers who stood at least 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds and ran a sub-4.45-second 40-yard time. Good company. He also had a 40.5-inch vertical, fourth-best among wideouts
OL Ezra Cleveland | Boise State
Prior to the combine, Ezra Cleveland was viewed as a developmental tackle prospect but he improved his stock. If it wasn’t for top-10 prospect Tristan Wirfs’ work, Cleveland would’ve taken more headlines after the combine. He had a great three-cone time of 7.26 for a 6-foot-6, 311-pound guy, along with a ridiculous 4.93 40-yard time. He’s an athlete. Cleveland could now be a Day 2 pick and a guy that perhaps could move Cody Ford to the guard position. Many predict he needs to bulk up, though.
Here are some players to watch for Bills fans during Friday’s Combine festivities.
A new crop of prospects will be on display at the Scouting Combine Friday. Running backs, offensive linemen, and special teams players will take the field for their on-field events.
While none of these position groups are necessarily a massive need for the Bills, they could use a few players to fill out the depth chart on their roster. Devin Singletary has the inside track as the starting running back this year, and four of the five starting linemen are projected to return this year.
The NFL Combine will take place from 4-11 p.m. EST on the NFL Network. Here are some players to watch for Bills fans during Friday’s Combine festivities:
With the selection of Singletary last year and his tremendous rookie season, it’s difficult to envision the Bills taking a player to compete with the FAU standout for starting reps. However, Buffalo will be interested in finding a player to complement Singletary in the backfield.
Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, Ohio State’s JK Dobbins’, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Florida State’s Cam Akers are all players who seemingly reside at the top of many big boards of analysts entering the Combine. While Buffalo may not be interested in using their draft capital for one of the players, it will be intriguing to see what the drop off between these players and those who are currently slated as later day two and day three picks.
If the drop off is not that steep, the Bills could find a great player later in the draft, yielding a great value pick for the team.
Anthony McFarland of Maryland, while a smaller back like Singletary, could be an option with his downhill running style. La’Mical Perine of Florida, KeShawn Vaughn of Vanderbilt, AJ Dillon of Boston College, and Joshua Kelley of UCLA are players who could find their way into the discussion for the Bills with solid Combine performances.
Offensive line
Michigan offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
At this time, it looks as if the Bills have at least four starters returning from the 2019 unit. Depending on what happens with Quinton Spain during the free agency period, there’s a chance that Buffalo could have all five starters back in the fold.
The Bills could take a swing at a top-rated guard on day two. It’s not a high priority at the time, but if the team finds a player who can further bolster the line and protect quarterback Josh Allen, the team will look to make that move.
Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz is one of the top-rated guards in the country. Draft analyst Chad Reuter from NFL.com has the Bills selecting Ruiz in a recent mock draft. Llyod Cushenberry III of LSU, Matt Hennessey of Temple and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs are day two targets at this time.
Later in the draft, Buffalo could find value from Matt Peart of Connecticut, Ben Bredenson of Michigan, Shane Lemieux of Oregon, and Nick Harris of Washington.
Overall
Friday’s sessions will reveal some possible depth pieces for the Bills moving forward. It will be vital to hear General Manager Brandon Beane’s thoughts on the prospects from the day’s sessions and interviews to see if there are any standouts at this point in the draft process. It’s still early and front office members will be careful about revealing who might be moving up their boards at this time. Nevertheless, it’s important to become familiar with many prospects, as many names will be discussed over the next few weeks.
The Jags have met with several at the combine so far, including Jax native Solomon Kindley and FSU’s Cam Akers.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ staff has been hard at work this week on their business trip to Indy, home of the NFL Combine. While waiting for the performance drill portion of the annual event, the team has reportedly gotten to interview several familiar players to fans, including DeeJay Dallas, Cam Akers, Solomon Kindley, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire to name a few.
Brunswick native, University of Miami RB DeeJay Dallas has had informal talks with Jaguars at Combine, he said.
Dallas, 21, played collegiately with the Miami Hurricanes where he accumulated 1,527 career rushing yards, 317 career receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns. He is a player who the Jags are well aware of as he is a native of Brunswick, Ga., a city just 70 miles from Jacksonville and attended Glenn Academy there. He’s also a player who offers physicality as a runner, and according to draft pundits, he could be selected between the fifth and seventh rounds.
Akers, 20, attended college down the road from Jacksonville at Florida State University. While there he accumulated 2,875 career rushing yards, 486 career receiving yards, and 34 total touchdowns. At 5-foot-11, 212 pounds, he brings a mix of size and shiftiness to the table and is projected to be a second or third round pick.
At 6-foot-3, 336 pounds, Kindley was a force for the Georgia Bulldogs in the trenches and would give the Jags a physical run blocker at guard. While at UGA, he started in 32 games and paved lanes for rushers like Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and DeAndre Swift. He also is a Jacksonville native who attended Raines High School and is expected to be a late first round to early second round selection.
Lastly, Edwards-Helaire is a player who attended Louisiana State and is one of many national champions to enter the draft. At 5-foot-8, 209 pounds, he’s a player who will remind fans of Maurice Jones-Drew as he welcomes contact but also showcases breakaway speed on tape. Most draft pundits believe he’ll be selected in the third round.
The Jags will meet with a lot of prospects over the next few months but it’s still worth keeping tabs on their meetings to reflect back on when the selections are made. We’ll continue to monitor who the Jags speak with this week as more reports are sure to come out.
