Patraw's Rankings 2022 NFL Draft: Running Backs
With the NFL Draft just days away, it's time to finalize the rankings and make some tough decisions on where to rank these prospects. We are moving to the running back position, where my top-10 backs are ranked along with the round I would feel comfortable drafting them.
The running back position has been very interesting regarding how teams value certain players and how they fit into specific schemes. We all know there's not just one guy to worry about in the backfield anymore because most teams have two backs they can deploy in different situations. The one-man backfield is largely a thing of the past, which means teams will be looking for a complementary back in this draft class, or someone that can lead that committee.
Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III are two running backs in this class that could lead a backfield. They both have a great set of tools at their disposal that can help push them into a significant role early in their career. Other backs like Kyren Williams and James Cook have the set of tools that help change the pace of an offense, making them a weapon in the passing game, but can also do plenty of damage in the running game.
While the first-round running back is becoming more and more unlikely, there's still plenty of talent in this class, and a few will have a chance to contribute early in their careers even if they're selected later in the draft. If I'm a general manager, waiting for players like Tyler Badie, Zamir White and Pierre Strong later in the draft might hold more value than selecting one of the higher-ranked running backs. That's not saying I wouldn't love to draft Hall or Walker early, but more towards the middle portion of Day 2.
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QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | iOL | iDL | EDGE | LB | CB | S
1. Breece Hall, Iowa State
Age: 20.9 | HT: 5112 | WT: 217 | Round Grade: 2
2. Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
Age: NA | HT: 5092 | WT: 211 | Round Grade: 2
3. James Cook, Georgia
Age: 22.6 | HT: 5110 | WT: 199 | Round Grade: 3
4. Dameon Pierce, Florida
Age: 22.2 | HT: 5100 | WT: 218 | Round Grade: 3
5. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
Age: 20.7 | HT: 6003 | WT: 217 | Round Grade: 3
6. Kyren Williams, Notre Dame
Age: NA | HT: 5090 | WT: 194 | Round Grade: 4
7. Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama
Age: 23.1 | HT: 6020 | WT: 225 | Round Grade: 5
8. Tyler Badie, Missouri
Age: NA | HT: 5080 | WT: 197 | Round Grade: 5
9. Zamir White, Georgia
Age: 22.6 | HT: 6000 | WT: 214 | Round Grade: 6
10. Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State
Age: 23.4 | HT: 5110 | WT: 207 | Round Grade: 6
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QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | iOL | iDL | EDGE | LB | CB | S
