Tag: chris rodriguez

WATCH: Commanders rookie RB Chris Rodriguez’s highlights

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a fun player to watch.

The Washington Commanders were always going to select a running back in the 2023 NFL draft. Yes, the top of Washington’s depth chart is set with Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson, but head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wanted to add another back to the stable.

Washington liked Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama. However, Gibbs went No. 12 overall to the Lions. The Commanders would’ve never selected Gibbs in the first round.

Gibbs wasn’t the only running back Washington liked. And in the sixth round, the Commanders found their guy in Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. Rodriguez rushed for over 3,600 yards and scored 36 touchdowns during his time at Kentucky against the best competition in the country.

Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reported that the Commanders had a third-round grade on Rodriguez.

Also, Bieniemy had significant input into the selection of Rodriguez.

What are the Commanders getting in Rodriguez?

Judge for yourself.

New Commanders running back was PFF’s top SEC RB in 2022

Chris Rodriguez was an underrated pickup for the Commanders.

When you scanned the mock drafts and prospect lists of draft analysts, you didn’t often see Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez listed among the best at his position.

Rodriguez wasn’t an NFL combine darling. He didn’t have a highlight reel of electric runs. He was a solid, steady running back who produced each season he was a significant part of the offense.

In his junior season of 2021, Rodriguez rushed for 1,378 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns. He returned as the starter in 2022 but was suspended for the first four games due to a DUI.

Even with Rodriguez missing four games, he rushed for 904 yards and six touchdowns. Pro Football Focus took note of Rodriguez’s final season with the Wildcats as he was the SEC’s top-graded running back.

Rodriguez will serve as backup to Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is reportedly a big fan of Rodriguez.

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Instant analysis of Commanders selecting Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez in 6th round

What does he add to the team?

The Washington Commanders entered the 2023 NFL draft looking to add a running back, likely someone on Day 3 in the final four rounds.

At pick No. 193, the Commanders selected Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.

What are the Commanders getting in Rodriguez?

Washington has its top two backs set in stone with Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson. The former third-round picks are an outstanding duo whose styles complement one another well. Gibson, the former starter, handles third-down duties and adds juice to the passing game, while Robinson proved in his rookie season he could be an NFL lead back.

The Commanders released J.D. McKissic, one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL, due to a neck injury. Rodriguez is not McKissic. Rodriguez is more of a bruising downhill runner who’ll spell Robinson on early downs.

A productive college player, rushing for over 3,600 yards and scoring 33 rushing touchdowns in his college career, Rodriguez could be a short-yardage back, at least early in his career. Rodriguez’s college numbers are impressive in the rugged SEC.

Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said about Rodriguez:

Rodriguez is a powerful runner, but he lacks the burst and creativity to become anything more than a downhill grinder. He has the size and mentality to do the dirty work between the tackles, but it could be a challenge for him to get to and through the hole quickly in the NFL. He’s a physical blitz protector, so teams might envision a role for him as a second-half battering ram and third-down quarterback protector.
Rodriguez should battle Jaret Patterson and Jonathan Williams for a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.

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Commanders select Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the 2023 NFL draft

The Commanders added a running back in the sixth round.

The Washington Commanders selected Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. with the No. 193 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

The 6-foot-0, 217-pound Rodriguez played five seasons for Kentucky and spent two seasons as a full-time starter. In 2020, Rodriguez played in nine games, rushing for 785 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2021, Rodriguez played in 13 games, and rushed for 1,378 yards with 10 touchdowns. Rodriguez also had three touchdown receptions.

As a graduate senior in 2022, Rodriguez played in eight games, rushing for 904 yards and six touchdowns. He was suspended four games due to a DUI.

For his career, Rodriguez rushed for 3,643 yards, averaging over six yards per carry and scored 33 rushing touchdowns.

Rodriguez will likely compete with Jonathan Williams and Jaret Patterson to be Washington’s third running back in 2023.

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16 running backs Broncos could target in 2023 NFL draft

The Broncos should consider these 16 running backs during the NFL draft this week.

The Denver Broncos will have a great running back duo in Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine when Williams recovers from the ACL/LCL injury he suffered last season.

Williams is facing an uncertain recovery timeline, though, putting his early-season availability in doubt. Perhine proved with the Cincinnati Bengals that he is a capable fill-in starter, but the Broncos will need another running back to pair with him if Williams is sidelined early in the season.

With the possibility of Williams missing time in 2023, Denver seems likely to draft a running back this week. Here’s a quick list of 16 names to watch for during the NFL draft.

Latest Colts’ 7-round mock draft goes in different direction

Breaking down the latest 7-round mock draft from CBS Sports, which had the Colts going in a different direction.

With the 2023 NFL draft quickly approaching, analysts are all doing their best work to predict how the big weekend will unfold, and that includes projecting how the Indianapolis Colts will go about their selections.

The Colts have done an admirable job keeping their information close to the vest when it comes to who they want to target—contrary to some national reports.

And while we know the Colts won’t draft solely based on need, there’s a slight blueprint to how we think their picks will go.

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But in their latest seven-round mock draft (a feat within itself), CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso had the Colts going in a differnt direction.

Here’s a quick look and breakdown of how that mock draft went for Indy:

15 late-round prospects Broncos could target in 2023 NFL draft

Here’s a quick look at 15 late-round prospects the Broncos could target in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Denver Broncos do not have first- or second-round picks to use in the 2023 NFL draft, so in order to have a great class (barring a trade up), general manager George Paton will have to find gems in the mid and late rounds of the draft.

The Broncos currently have five draft picks: Nos. 67 and 68 overall in the third round, No. 108 in the fourth, No. 139 in the fifth and No. 195 in the sixth. Denver does not currently hold a pick in the seventh round, but the club might acquire additional picks through draft-day trades.

Paton has made six trades through his first two drafts with the Broncos, trading down four times. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him trade down again this year to add more picks.

Today, we’re taking a quick look at 15 prospects that Denver could target in the fifth, sixth and seventh (late rounds) of the 2023 NFL draft.

Broncos had a formal interview with RB Chris Rodriguez at NFL combine

Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez is projected as a fifth-round prospect in this year’s draft.

The Denver Broncos had a formal interview with Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez at the NFL combine, according to Ryan Edwards of KOA Radio. NFL teams are allowed to have up to 45 formal visits with players at the combine each year.

Rodriquez (6-0, 217 pounds) earned second-team All-SEC recognition as a redshirt junior in 2021 after rushing for 1,378 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games. Before his final season in 2022, Rodriquez pled guilty to DUI and was suspended for the first four games of his senior year.

In the eight games he played in last season, Rodriquez rushed 175 times for 904 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

Rodriquez is now projected to be a fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft. The Broncos currently hold pick No. 139 overall in the fifth round.

If selected by Denver, Rodriquez would be penciled in on the depth chart behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine going into his rookie season.

The 2023 NFL draft will be held in Kansas City from April 27-29.

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2023 NFL draft film room: Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

See for yourself what makes Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez Jr. one of the top running back prospects in the 2023 NFL draft

It’s never too early to look ahead to the next group of top prospects, so if you’re looking to get a head start on the 2023 NFL draft class, we’ve got you covered.

What makes Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez Jr. one of next year’s top running back prospects?

Watch the tape and see for yourself:

Prediciting every SEC teams leading rusher in 2022

Here are projections for the top running backs in the SEC next year.

The 2021 season may have just ended, but it is never too early to look ahead to next year.

The SEC has embraced the pass-heavy offences that are sweeping the college football landscape but that has not prevented the conference from continued to have some of the best running backs in the country. That should once again be the case in 2022 as several running backs will be looking to build on previous seasons and several talented backs have transferred in from other conferences.

Here is an early look at every team’s leading rusher next season.