2023 NFL Draft: Jaguars' Selection of Tank Bigsby Helps Trent Baalke Keep RB Streak

For the 13th draft in a row, Trent Baalke has added to the running back room.

The Jacksonville Jaguars kept a small streak alive with the selection of Auburn running back Tank Bigsby at No. 88 overall. For the third year in a row, they had selected a running back. 

But for general manager Trent Baalke, the pick kept a much-longer streak alive: 14 years of selecting a running back in every single draft.

Jaguars used their third-round pick on Auburn RB Tank Bigsby, which should come as no surprise. Jaguars’ GM Trent Baalke now has drafted a running back in every single year he has been a GM (49ers 2011-2016, Jaguars 2021-2023).

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2023

Full history:

2011 SF: Kendall Hunter (Round 4)
2012 SF: LaMichael James (R2)
2013 SF: Marcus Lattimore (R4)
2014 SF: Carlos Hyde (R2)
2015 SF: Mike Davis (R4)
2016 SF: Kelvin Taylor (R6)
2021 JAX: Travis Etienne (R1)
2022 JAX: Snoop Conner (R5)
2023 JAX: Tank Bigsby (R3) https://t.co/8XzdFTARQ9

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 29, 2023

The streak started in 2010 with Anthony Dixon in the sixth round. Since then, Baalke has drafted one running back in the first round, two in the second round, two in the third round, three in the fourth round, one in the fifth, and one in the sixth.

"I like running backs," Baalke laughed. 

"Again, you stick with the board. We felt at that point in time what he brings to the table, his physicality, the way he runs between the tackles, it was something that we needed to add to the rotation. It's going to be, like coach said, great competition. You got a room with guys that got to now go earn it. That never hurts. Iron sharpens iron."

A four-star recruit who was the No. 4 running back in the 2020 recruiting class behind just Bijan Robinson, Zach Evans and Demarckus Bowman, Bigsby was named the SEC Freshman of the year in 2020 after he appeared in 10 games and carried the ball 138 times for 834 yards and five touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry.

Bigsby started 13 games in 2021, averaging 4.9 yards per carry on 223 carries, recording 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with 21 catches for 184 yards.

Bigsby returned as a started in 2022, starting 11 games and leading Auburn in rushing with 970 yards, 5.4 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns.

"Again, it's one of our stronger rooms, obviously, on the team. I'm excited about that. The type of person that Tank (Bigsby) is, he's another one that we met at the Combine," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Friday. 

"Just love the way he runs. He's a smart guy. He understands fronts, defense, knows what he's looking at. He's a smart runner. Just have to get him in here and get him started."