Draft Preview: Running Backs

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March 28, 2025

by David Earl

Who Could Washington Target

Washington’s 5th-ranked running game looks promising on the surface, but peeling away the top layer, we see two very different stories. This was Brian Robinson Jr.’s best season.  He averaged 4.3 yards per carry and managed to run for more than 60 yards in a game 7 times, eclipsing the 100-yard mark 3 times during the regular season. While he can be a serviceable running back, he lacks the elite top-end speed and receiving skillset to be considered a true feature running back in today’s NFL. Having a runner like Jahmyr Gibbs who averages 83.1 yards per game, and who also has a quality his receiving skillset would generate a far more dynamic offense, particularly if paired with Jayden Daniels‘ 891 yards rushing on 148 carries at 6.0 yards per carry.

This draft offers plenty of options to fill that Gibbs role. The top two names, Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton, are both top 15 picks and well out of reach for Washington. The one name that jumps out immediately is OSU’s TreVeyon Henderson. He offers a true three-down option, as he is a natural pass catcher and is fantastic in space. Henderson is a home run threat anywhere on the field and is a polished pass protector. He does come with some durability concerns, though – he missed time in the 2022/2023 seasons and will generate some negative plays at times. Overall, Henderson would potentially bethe  game-changing piece Washington needs on offensive after acquiring wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Washington would probably have to either use the 29th overall selection for Henderson or trade back a few spots and draft him in the early second where he has been projected most often.

Another name to watch is Georgia’s Trevor Etienne, who is just 20 and holds plenty of upside. He needs a lot of refinement in pass protection and, although he does have excellent top-end speed, his acceleration needs to improve. Time to develop would bode well for his future.

The following rankings were taken from consensus mock drafts during the draft evaluation process among the league. The players scouting reports are taken from Draft Buzz.

Tier 1: Projected First Round Selections

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, 5’9″ and 215lbs, 4.42 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Great contact balance maintaining momentum through his runs keeping a good consistent pad level. The combination of compact size and speed plus his vision allows him to redirect into developing holes. True 3 down running back as a natural pass catcher and excellent in pass protection.
  • Weakness: Limited route tree development and some ball security issues will be present. He also comes into the NFL already off a heavy workload with a total of 750 rushing attempts in three years with 374 attempts last season alone
  • Draft Projection: Top 10 overall selection

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, 6’0″ and 220lbs, 4.46 Forty Time

  • Strengths: One of the more violent runners in this class drawing comparison to Marshawn Lynch in style. His excellent leg drive and overall core strength rarely see a loss in yards on first contact. Great burst after his first step and has great balance throughout his runs. Has good hands as a receiver and is strong in pass protection thus will not be a liability in the passing game.
  • Weakness: Will tend to be too upright at times and can get too handsy in pass protection. Is not a great elusive runner in space and was primarily a checkdown target in the passing game not showing a versatile route tree. Does not have great top-end speed so will be chased down at times in the secondary.
  • Draft Projection: Mid-round pick

Tier 2: Projected Day Two Selections

TreVeyon Henderson, OSU, 5’10” and 208lbs, 4.43 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Could be the best homerun threat in this class with excellent acceleration and equal closing speed. Great vision and lateral movement with excellent contact balance in traffic. Very natural pass protector and reliable hands in the passing game. Excellent in space especially as his lateral quickness makes him a very elusive runner.
  • Weakness: Missing time in the 2022 and 2023 seasons shows some durability concerns as a feature runner. Will generate too many negative plays at times and can be too impatient bouncing runs outside not allowing the offensive line to develop a running lane.
  • Draft Projection: Early second but could slide into the late first round

Quinshon Judkins, OSU, 6’0″ and 219lbs, 4.57 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Great contact balance and excellent stiff arm results in very few negative plays. Runs with exceptional patience and vision behind the offensive line. Excels especially in short-yardage situations and has elite-level ball security. Good natural hands catcher.
  • Weakness: Struggles in pass protection and not really elusive in open space. Very limited in his route tree. Not especially elusive in space and will hesitate at times which affects his lateral movement and initial burst.
  • Draft Projection: Early to mid-second round

Kaleb Johnson, Iowa, 5’9″ and 225lbs, 4.48 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Great patient runner and has an excellent first step quick burst. Along with outstanding vision, he is great against the first initial tackle and very hard to bring down with an arm tackle. Maintains good contact balance and is a solid contributor in the passing game.
  • Weakness: Does not possess great top-end speed and lacks exceptional lateral movement once through the line of scrimmage. Is not a refined pass blocker and his route tree needs to be improved if a team wants to utilize him in the passing game.
  • Draft Projection: Mid second round

Cameron Skattebo, Arizona State, 5’11” and 215lbs 4.62 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Runs with tremendous power and contact balance through excellent lower body power and control. A patient runner who sets up blocks very well with outstanding vision seeing running lanes developing. Is a very punishing runner who gets better with more volume of carries. Very good natural-handed receiver and adjusts well to the ball in the air.
  • Weakness: While good as a receiver he lacks any true top-end speed and is very inconsistent in pass protection. Is a major concern in ball security leading to 10 fumbles in the last three seasons. His workload of 521 carries over the last 2 years could be a concern.
  • Draft Projection: Early to mid-third round

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee, 5’11” and 201lbs, 4.35 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Great burst through the line with an exceptional second gear once in the second level. Outstanding lateral movement and short area elusiveness when in space. Recognizes defensive alignments very well and is most dangerous in a zone-read scheme. Shows good hands and a great first step after the catch making the first tackler miss more time than not.
  • Weakness: Too undersized to be a feature runner and ball security is an issue losing 4 fumbles last season. Limited experience as a receiver and struggles in pass protection recognitions.
  • Draft Projection: Late second to early third round

Tier 3: Projected Day Three Selections

Devin Neal, Kansas, 5’11” and 215lbs, 4.58 Forty Time

  • Strengths: A very good first-step burst makes him an excellent one-cut-and-go runner with a great initial burst. A great fluid runner with excellent lateral movement and balance. Secured the ball exceptionally well committing only four fumbles on 760 career carries.
  • Weakness: Will run upright too often, can be indecisive at the line of scrimmage, and his contact balance is average. Does not have naturally good hands as a receiver and does not excel as a pass protector.
  • Draft Projection: Late third early fourth round

D.J. Giddens, Kansas State, 6’1″ and 212lbs, 4.43 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Excellent lateral movement and vision in seeing blocks developing. Has a great stop-and-go movement mid-run and has a very good contact balance. Very patient runner behind his blocks and has no issues with ball security. A good receiver in the passing game with natural instincts for the position.
  • Weakness: Does not anchor well in pass protection and will have concentration issues resulting in dropped passes. Is not a great elusive runner in tight spaces and takes longer to hit top-end speed due to a long stride.
  • Draft Projection: Early fifth round

Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech, 5’11” and 209lbs, 4.32 Forty Time

  • Strengths: One of the top running backs in the passing game as a natural pass catcher, he adjusts very well to the ball and accelerates to top-end speed quickly after the catch. Great contact balance and is a tough enough runner between the tackles.
  • Weakness: Lacks elite lateral movement and decisiveness as a runner. Is a liability in pass protection and does not protect the ball very well consistently.
  • Draft Projection: Early fifth round

Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State, 6’2″ and 215lbs, 4.61 Forty Time

  • Strengths: A tough bruising runner between the tackles with excellent vision and patience. Excellent drive and power through would-be tacklers and has a good deceptive burst. Will be serviceable as a pass catcher.
  • Weakness: Can be too indecisive and does not keep a consistent good pad level. Is not a good pass blocker and does not possess elite-level agility or change of pace explosion.
  • Draft Projection: Mid-fifth round

R.J. Harvey Jr.n University of Central Florida, 5’9″ and 208lbs, 4.40 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Great vision and explosion as both a runner and receiver. Great patience in setting up his blocks and finding cutback lanes. Maintains excellent contact balance and has an elite level of lateral quickness. Good ball security and is one of the best home run threats in this class.
  • Weakness: Undersized to be a featured back and will be too indecisive at times in the backfield. Does not have ideal power through would-be tacklers and is a liability in pass protection.
  • Draft Projection: Mid-fifth round

Trevor Etienne, Georgia, 5’9″ and 205lbs, 4.42 Forty Time

  • Strengths: Good vision as a runner and can quickly change direction while maintaining his top-end speed. Maintains a consistent pad level when running into tacklers and is very good in traffic. Manipulates defenders very well and processes blitzes very well for his age.
  • Weakness: Undersized frame and, while he has great long speed, he does not accelerate very well. Does not carry any power or drive as a runner and will struggle in pass protection.
  • Draft Projection: Mid-fifth round
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