Tag: Israel Abanikanda

Instant analysis of Jets selecting Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda

Thoughts on Israel Abanikanda?

The Jets added to their running back room with the selection of Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda with the 143rd pick of the 2023 NFL draft.

With the Jets recently releasing Ty Johnson, running back was likely an option at some point in the draft for the Jets and they find themselves a nice one in the fifth round.

Abanikanda (5-10, 216 pounds), of Nigerian descent and born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, is coming off a very strong season for the Panthers in 2022. He ran for 1,431 yards on 239 carries (six yards per carry) with a whopping 20 touchdowns. He led the ACC in rushing yards and led the FBS in scoring. He also added a receiving touchdown for good measure.

Abanikanda brings a lot of speed and burst to the Jets’ running back room. He ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at his Pro Day (a hamstring injury kept him from running at the Scouting Combine). He doesn’t have the greatest balance but his vision and speed allow him to make up for it and he is a potential home-run hitter on each play. He makes for a very nice complementary back with Breece Hall and overall, the Jets certainly don’t have a bad group when also adding in Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight.

Abanikanda can also work as a returner for the Jets with his speed. He has a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in 2021 to his credit as well.

And perhaps the best part is he is still very young. He doesn’t turn 21 until October. Hard to argue with the value and fit at pick 143.

Jets select Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda at No. 143

Jets add to the running back room.

The Jets have selected Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda with the 143rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

New York makes it back-to-back Pitt players selected after taking offensive tackle Carter Warren at No. 120. Now the Jets get a running back Warren blocked for and a very nice one at that.

Abanikanda rushed for 1,431 yards in 2022 which led the ACC and had 20 rushing touchdowns. He joins a running back room that includes Breece Hall, Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight and should be a really nice complementary back for the Jets. He can explode at any given moment with his burst. He also ran a 4.44 40 at his Pro Day — a hamstring injury prevented him from running at the Scouting Combine. Another solid pick on Day 3 here for the Jets.

2023 NFL Draft: Day 3 fantasy football recap

Recapping all of the noteworthy fantasy football picks from Rounds 4-7.

StThe 2023 NFL Draft’s final day is here, bringing us Rounds 4-7. We’ll examine any noteworthy selections who may have a role in fantasy football.

Be sure to check out our Day 1 and Day 2 coverage for a better feel of how these rookies all fit into fantasy plans for the upcoming year and beyond.

Round 4 fantasy football reaction

30 best players available for Broncos on Day 2 of the NFL draft

The Broncos have a pair of picks to use on Day 2 of the NFL draft. Here are 30 prospects fans should keep an eye on Friday night.

After not making a pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night, the Denver Broncos are now set to make a pair of selections on Friday.

Denver has back-to-back picks (Nos. 67 and 68 overall) in the third round. The Broncos are without a second-round pick after including it as part of the trade for quarterback Russell Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks last year.

There are many notable prospects available going into Day 2 of the draft, including some intriguing candidates at Denver’s biggest positions of need. Before the draft, Broncos Wire identified cornerback, defensive line, center and running back as the team’s biggest draft needs.

Denver’s front office plans to draft based on its big board rankings, though, so there’s no guarantee that the Broncos will specifically target those listed positions. But if we swapped places with general manager George Paton, we’d target CBs, DLs, RBs and Cs at this point in the draft.

Here’s a quick list of 30 players to watch for on Day 2 of the draft.

NFL Draft: 11 best Minnesota Vikings fits

Going into the NFL Draft, @TheKevinFielder identifies the best fits for the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s finally here.

Beginning today, 259 players will hear their names called during the NFL Draft. The draft is the NFL’s best answer to reality television, with the event taking over three days and countless hours.

For the Minnesota Vikings, it’s an opportunity to continue building a roster that found itself in the playoffs just a year ago. However, the Vikings have just five draft picks after multiple trades, including for T.J. Hockenson in at the trade deadline. That number could decrease even further if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chooses to get aggressive by moving up for a quarterback.

Regardless of how the Vikings maneuver the board, they’ll have to get creative to add impactful players at positions of need, especially with three picks coming on Day 3 of the draft.

Here are eleven players the Vikings could target during the NFL Draft.

One RB target for every round of the 2023 NFL draft

The Browns will likely draft a running back in the 2023 NFL draft. Here is one per round they could target.

While the Cleveland Browns made great strides in NFL free agency, especially along their defensive line, they did lose two running backs (well, not necessarily Kareem Hunt, but it is unlikely he returns). With D’Ernest Johnson heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns will likely select a running back in the 2023 NFL draft. There have been rumors they could even take one in the third round.

The good news for the Brown, however, is that it is a deep crop of running backs in this year’s class. While names like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs will be well out of their range, we take a look at one running back per round they could target later this week.

Colts’ 2023 NFL draft big board: Running Backs

The Colts don’t need to draft a RB before Day 3, but here’s our big board for the position in 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts are going into the 2023 NFL draft with a solid backfield led by one of the league’s best in Jonathan Taylor.

This position may not even be on the list of needs for the team going into the draft, but this is a class that boasts a lot of depth even if there are question marks with a good portion of the prospects.

There is no reason the Colts need to spend earlier than a Day 3 pick on a running back if they really wanted to draft one. Even then, it might behoove them to wait until the fifth round. The room is solid with Taylor, Zack Moss and Deon Jackson, and they can probably scoop up some intriguing talent after the draft.

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As we break down the prospects by round, think of the “rounds” as tiers and when I believe the team should begin to consider drafting them.

Be sure to check out Jeff Risdon’s running back big board over at Draft Wire as well. We also created big boards at the following positions:

Without further ado, we continue our big board series with a look at the running backs in the 2023 draft class:

Perfect mid/late-round RB fits for the Eagles in 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at the perfect mid/late-round running back fits for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft

The Eagles will look somewhat different at running back in 2023, with Rashaad Penny replacing former Penn State star Miles Sanders.

Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon give Philadelphia the potential for a solid committee of rushers. However, could Howie Roseman look to find the perfect fit during this month’s draft?

The Eagles have eyes for Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs, but we have the perfect fits if GM Howie Roseman decides to move in the mid to late rounds.

10 more late-round 2023 draft sleepers for Cowboys to consider

Are there any DaRon Bland, Tony Pollard or Dalton Schultz’s in this draft class? Here’s 10 CB/TE/RB contenders for the Cowboys to consider. | From @ProfessorO_NFL

In the first part of our two-part series , we highlighted 10 late-round sleeper prospects the Dallas Cowboys could consider in the 2023 NFL draft. That focus was on defensive line, linebackers and wide receivers. We showcased the importance of finding value in the later rounds and listed some of the Cowboys recent successes as examples of Will McClay’s Day 3 gems.  This article shifts focus to three other position groups the Cowboys could target in the later rounds: cornerback, running back and tight end.

The Cowboys have recently made additions via trade and free agency to bolster the cornerback and running back rooms but will likely still be on the lookout for more depth for both groups. Here are 10 more late-round sleeper prospects who could add depth in areas of need, with the upside to become key contributors in the near future.

New Orleans Saints 2023 NFL draft scouting report: Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda

New Orleans Saints 2023 NFL draft scouting report: Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda surging after strong pro day workout, via @DillySanders:

The New Orleans Saints have already addressed the running back room this offseason, but they might not be done adding weapons. Jamaal Williams was signed to a three-year deal, but Alvin Kamara has looming legal troubles and a potential out in his contract in 2024. Could the Saints look to the draft for some insurance?

The Saints recently met with Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda at the combine in a formal interview, according to Abanikanda himself. It makes sense why the Saints are still interested in him, as he’s a great talent that has done nothing but help himself in the past year.

He put up staggering numbers in his senior season, rushing for 1,431 yards and an insane 20 touchdown runs. He’s young and has fairly low tread on the tires for someone who was as productive as he was. He caught a couple of passes, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a strength of his.

His size and speed combination is where he gets really exciting. He stands at 5-foot-10 and a dense 216 pounds while not sacrificing any of the athleticism of a smaller guy. He has a 41-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump, adding a 4.41-second time in the 40-yard-dash.

As a running back, he’s a grinder with a great motor. Has a ton of tools to come in and produce immediately while New Orleans figures out the Kamara situation. He also pass blocks willingly, which will go a long way in the Saints organization.

I wouldn’t call Abanikanda and Williams a super complimentary backfield, but they’re two talented players and, with Kamara, would still be the best trio in the NFC South.

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