Tag: running back

Broncos met with RB Trey Benson at the NFL combine

The Broncos met with FSU running back Trey Benson at the NFL combine. He is considered one of the top RBs in this year’s NFL draft.

The Denver Broncos had a formal interview with Florida State’s Trey Benson at the NFL combine, the running back told Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.

Benson (6-0, 216 pounds) impressed at the combine with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and a 1.52-second 10-yard split. He is considered one of the top running backs in this year’s class.

Benson spent the first two years of his college career at Oregon. He missed his freshman season with a knee injury and played sparingly as a sophomore. Benson then transferred to FSU ahead of the 2022 season.

In his first year with the Seminoles, Benson earned second-team All-ACC recognition after rushing for 990 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned that honor again in 2023 after totaling 1,133 yards from scrimmage and scoring 15 total touchdowns (14 rushing, one receiving).

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has Benson projected as a second- or third-round prospect. The Broncos do not have a second-round pick, but they do hold pick No. 76 in the third round. With Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine scheduled to become free agents in 2025, Denver would be wise to add more depth at running back this spring.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

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Inexperienced RB depth could lead to Colts using draft pick on position

The Colts have Jonathan Taylor but an inexperienced group behind him. Could this lead to the Colts spending a draft pick on a running back?

Running back is far from a major need that the Colts have. However, some unknowns around that RB2 role could lead to the Colts using a draft pick on the position.

The Colts signed Jonathan Taylor to a three-year extension last October, which is largely why they certainly don’t have to address this position in the upcoming draft.

Behind Taylor on the depth chart is Trey Sermons, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season. Tyler Goodson would average 6.7 yards per attempt on 13 carries. The Colts also have Evan Hull, a 2023 draft pick, whose season was cut short in Week 1 with a knee injury.

All three players possess upside, which could result in a very solid running back room. However, there also isn’t enough of a sample size to go into the season fully confident that things will play out that way, either.

Combined, Sermon, Goodson, and Hull have 92 career rushing attempts, with Sermon having 78 of them. In the passing game, the trio has just 20 total targets as well.

Admittedly, going into the season, relying heavily on these three players comes with some risk because of the general lack of experience. In today’s NFL, having a reliable second running back who will see his fair share of snaps is a must. All of this could result in GM Chris Ballard adding to the running back room in the draft.

In total, the Colts only have seven selections, with only four teams having fewer and some much more pressing needs to tackle. So if Ballard does decide to add to the running back room, he will likely do so on Day 3.

This also doesn’t happen to be a very strong draft class at the position either, which could impact when or if the Colts add a running back, depending on who is available. Of the 10 position groups, PFF graded the running back position in this year’s draft class as the worst, receiving a C.

Below are a few names in this year’s running back class who are on the outside of PFF’s top 100 rankings, where the Colts could be looking to add to this position group:

113. Tyrone Tracy, Purdue

138. Will Shipley, Clemson

139. Isaac Guerendo, Louisville

166. Dylan Laube, New Hampshire

170. Dillon Johnson, Washington

184. Kimani Vidal, Troy

190. Cody Schrader, Missouri

207. Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss

When evaluating running back options, in addition to how they perform as a ball carrier, the ability to impact the game as a pass-catcher, along with being a capable blocker in pass protection, are important skill sets to have.

Over the last two drafts, in particular, there has also been an emphasis on selecting some of the top athletes within their respective position groups. In 2022, no Colts draft pick had a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) below 9.34. In 2023, nine of Ballard’s 12 picks scored above 9.0, with the lowest registering an 8.48 on the RAS scale.

Packers hosting Kentucky RB Ray Davis on top-30 pre-draft visit

The Green Bay Packers are hosting Kentucky running back Ray Davis on an official top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers are hosting Kentucky running back Ray Davis on an official top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

Teams are allowed to host up to 30 prospects on visits ahead of the draft. Packers Wire is tracking all the reported visits here.

Per Brugler, Davis will also visit the Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals. He is in Green Bay on Monday for the visit.

A transfer from Vanderbilt and Temple, Davis produced 3,626 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, 94 catches, 762 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, 4,388 total yards and 41 total touchdowns over 44 combined games with the three schools. Davis rushed for over 1,000 yards in his only season at Kentucky and actually had over 1,000 rushing yards at all three schools he attended.

Davis (5-8, 211) was an All-SEC pick after rushing for 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns and scoring a school record 21 total touchdowns in 2023. He had 280 rushing yards and four scores during a game against Florida. Davis averaged 5.7 yards per rush, caught 32 passes and earned an elite rushing grade from Pro Football Focus last season. He forced 57 missed tackles and averaged almost 3.9 yards after first contact.

At the combine, Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, hit 35″ in the vertical leap, covered 9-11 in the broad jump and finished the short shuttle in 4.51 seconds. His Relative Athletic Score is 5.41 out of 10.0.

Davis participated during the Senior Bowl.

The Packers swapped Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs and re-signed A.J. Dillon, but investing in the running back position is still a likely priority in the 2024 draft. Davis is PFF’s No. 102 overall prospect, so it’s possible he could be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 option for the Packers.

Dallas Cowboys host former Alabama RB Jase McClellan for a pre-draft visit

Dallas Cowboys host former Alabama RB Jase McClellan for top 30 pre-draft visit

A lot of changes appear to be coming for the Dallas Cowboys organization in the next year or two. Franchise quarterback Dak Prescott seems to be on his way out of town after this upcoming season given the lack of contract extension talks. This comes after the departure of long-time RB Ezekiel Elliott a season ago and Tony Pollard this offseason. So, it might be the NFL’s worst-kept secret that Dallas is looking to retool.

With Trey Lance sitting as a backup already and Dak on the roster through the 2024 season, I doubt they make any big quarterback moves this year. However, with only Deuce Vaughn on the roster, it appears as if Dallas will be in the market for a running back. Between Elliot, Pollard and Vaughn, all were found in the draft, and I think that’s what the Cowboys will be doing again this year.

The Cowboys’ first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft will be at No. 24 overall. There have been strong rumors linking the Cowboys to Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson, however, it also appears as if they have been testing the waters for an RB. The Cowboys hosted former Alabama Crimson Tide RB [autotag]Jase McClellan[/autotag] for top 30 pre-draft visit this week. McClellan played his high school ball at Aledo, so I am sure it would be a dream come true for the Alabama bruiser.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

3 of Packers’ biggest needs among lowest graded positions in draft class by PFF

Three of the bigger draft needs that the Packers have are among the lowest graded position groups in this year’s class by PFF.

Three of the more pressing needs the Green Bay Packers will likely try to address in the upcoming draft, unfortunately, happen to be the lowest graded position groups in this year’s class by PFF.

Of the 10 position groups that PFF graded, running back was the lowest, receiving a C, while linebacker and safety both received C+ grades.

With how aggressive teams were at the running back position in free agency, including the Packers, in handing out some lucrative deals, that potentially gives us some insight into what the league thinks of this year’s class.

With Josh Jacobs on the roster, the Packers have stability at the position, but AJ Dillon isn’t guaranteed a roster spot this season with his contract, and Emanuel Wilson remains a relative unknown.

The second running back on the depth chart has become an important role in the NFL, and it was the run game late in the season that helped unlock the full potential of the Packers’ offense.

At linebacker, the Packers are in need of both depth and need to determine who their strong-side linebacker is going to be when they are in their base 4-3 defense. As the roster is currently constructed, Isaiah McDuffie would probably be the middle linebacker with Quay Walker the weak-side linebacker, along with Eric Wilson there for depth.

As I wrote about recently, I’m not sure that within the Packers’ organization there is as much consternation about the linebacker position as there is on the outside.

Jeff Hafley’s defense can hopefully put Quay Walker in more consistent positions to make plays. McDuffie played his final collegiate season at Boston College under Hafley and performed well when called upon last season. Wilson, meanwhile, provides experienced depth, and although the Packers now run a 4-3 scheme, they will still spend most of their snaps in nickel with just two linebackers on the field.

The Packers found their do-it-all safety in free agency in Xavier McKinney, whose presence on the field will make everyone around him better. However, it’s also possible that McKinney’s running mate isn’t on the roster yet either, with Anthony Johnson as the next most experienced defensive player with a few hundred career snaps.

With McKinney likely playing most of his snaps as the post-safety, finding a safety who can play in the box would be a good complement. However, at both safety and linebacker, GM Brian Gutekunst doesn’t want to hyper-focus on one specific need and pigeonhole a player into a role. Versatility at both positions is going to be an emphasis for Gutekunst in the draft.

Now, having said all of that, with players like Walker, Jacobs, and McKinney, the Packers do have very strong, solid foundations at those position groups.

With five picks in the top 100, Gutekunst has the flexibility to move around if needed to find the right player. He also shouldn’t feel the need to reach for a certain player or position group either because with that many selections in the firs three rounds, along with having 11 altogether, the Packers won’t be waiting too long before they are back on the clock again.

The Packers have options going into the draft, and that is what every GM wants. However, in terms of finding some immediate impact help at any of these position groups, that still could be a challenge.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at RB ahead of the Draft

What Condition Raiders RB Position is in heading into the Draft

With the Draft just weeks away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ running back position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Zamir White, Alexander Mattison
Backups: Ameer Abdullah, Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick, Tyreik McAllister

White played well in the final five games of last season after Josh Jacobs was lost to injury. But new GM Tom Telesco made it clear he didn’t want a workhorse back, but rather a committee in the backfield. Mattison has been a part time player for most of his five-year NFL career. He put up a career-high 700 yards on 180 carries last season along with 30 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

Condition: Stable

Notes: From the looks of it, the Raiders have the duo they like in White and Mattison. Though the depth is suspect. I wouldn’t put it past them to take a running back in this draft, but it would likely be no higher than a day three pick should someone they like happen to be there later than they expected.

Broncos met with Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen at the NFL combine

The Broncos had an informal meeting with Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen at the NFL combine last month. He’s a fourth-round prospect.

The Denver Broncos had an informal meeting with Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen at the NFL combine, the running back revealed during his media availability in Indianapolis last month.

Allen (6-1, 235 pounds) did not run a 40-yard dash at the combine or his pro day because he was returning from an ankle injury. Allen did post a 32-inch vertical jump and bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times at the combine.

In three seasons with the Badgers, Allen rushed 597 times for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns in 35 games. He was not frequently used as a receiver out of the backfield, totaling 28 receptions for 132 yards last fall.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Allen to Michael Bush, who was a fourth-round pick out of LSU in 2007. Allen is also projected to go off the board in the fourth round of this year’s class.

The Broncos currently hold pick No. 121 in the fourth round and Allen could be a target at that spot. The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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Oklahoma Sooners Snapshot Profile: Running back Gavin Sawchuk

2024 player profile of running back Gavin Sawchuk.

Evaluating the current roster, Sooners Wire profiles the current players, with running back [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] up next.

Continue reading “Oklahoma Sooners Snapshot Profile: Running back Gavin Sawchuk”

Star RB Derrick Henry to sign with Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Henry has signed with the Baltimore Ravens, it will be the first time he’s with a team other than the Titans in nearly a decade.

At 30 years old, star running back Derrick Henry will start a new chapter in his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. After playing eight seasons in Nashville with the Tennessee Titans, Henry has swapped teams in the AFC.

The former Heisman Trophy recipient was a second-round selection in 2016 by the Titans. He has led the league in carries four times and twice led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Though many consider him to be old for his position, he has shown no signs of slowing down, which is surprising considering his style of play is rather physical as a downhill runner. In 2023, he had a league-high 280 carries for 1,167 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. On top of that, he added 28 receptions for 214 receiving yards, while completing two of three passing attempts for 14 yards and two touchdowns.

Baltimore looks to compete with the elites of the AFC, having one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Lamar Jackson. Adding Henry is huge for their quest to build a strong offensive presence that extends beyond Jackson.

The deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter is for two years worth up to $20 million with $9 million guaranteed.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Henry and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Slater: Cowboys considered RB Zack Moss, eyeing free agents ‘in range that we can afford’

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys sat out a whirlwind of RB signings on Monday, with a source citing the team’s budget as a reason they didn’t add anyone.

The first day of “legal tampering” came and went Monday, and the Cowboys front office watched it all from the sidelines. While the day saw Tony Pollard, Dorance Armstrong, and Tyler Biadasz pack up for new destinations, Jerry and Stephen Jones didn’t do any buying of their own, despite some obvious holes that need to be filled for the 2024 season.

It was frustrating to watch for fans, as marquee names at one key position- running back- came off the market, one at a time, all day long. Saquon Barkley, D’Andre Swift, Josh Jacobs, Gus Edwards, Devin Singletary, Austin Ekeler, Aaron Jones, and the aforementioned Pollard all landed new offers within the first 24 hours of action.

As of this writing, the only Cowboys under contract who logged any rushing attempts in 2023 and are actually listed on the roster as running backs are Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke.

Now word comes from one team insider on Tuesday that reveals the mindset of the team’s management amid the whirlwind of negotiations happening around the league, and it’s sure to not sit well with Cowboys Nation.

Longtime team insider Jane Slater of NFL Network reports that Dallas brass “kicked around the idea” of signing Colts running back Zack Moss. The 2020 third-round draft pick amassed 794 yards and five touchdowns last season on fewer than 200 carries, and, having just turned 26 in December, appears to still be coming into his prime.

Potentially a legitimate value pickup for a team in dire need of backfield help.

The Cincinnati Bengals thought so, too, agreeing to sign Moss to a two-year deal worth $8 million.

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That number was apparently just too rich for the Cowboys. And though it’s not known if the Joneses balked at the idea of paying $8 million to Zack Moss or balked at the idea of paying $8 million to a running back, the development suggests that the Cowboys are taking a purely passive approach and may be limiting themselves to bargain-bin roster adds only.

Slater all but confirmed as much, explaining that a team source told her, “We are looking at any player that can improve us in range that we can afford. We have talked to any guy who has called and listened to what their wishes or ranges are.”

Any guy who has called.

In range that we can afford.

There’s a lot there for Cowboys fans to be upset about, and it doesn’t provide much optimism for any Tuesday announcement that will suddenly turn the Dallas backfield into a feared- or even mediocre- unit.

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