NFL Draft: The Future of Drafting Running Backs

By Michael Schneid

Based on the 2013 draft and the last few drafts, it is going to be hard to justify drafting a running back in the first round, especially in the top few picks.

This year there were no running backs taken in the first round. Many people expected Eddie Lacy to likely be the one and only back taken in round one, he was the 4th back taken in round two. Gio Bernard, Leveon Bell, and Montee Ball were all drafted ahead of Lacy, who has been the most successful rookie RB this season.

Bernard and Bell have both had success too. Bell battled injuries earlier in the season but is now the true workhorse for Pittsburgh while Gio Bernard splits carries with Ben Jarvus Green Ellis but has gained more yards than him and out-touched him as well.

Montee Ball is the backup to Knowshon Moreno and really hasn't done much. Moreno is a former first round pick. Also on Denver's depth chart is Ronnie Hillman, who was a second round pick last season.

Late in the 2013 draft the Rams took Zac Stacy, the Bucs drafted Mike James and the Cardinals drafted Andre Ellington.

The Rams took Isaiah Pead in the second round of the 2012 draft, Daryl Richardson in the 7th round and this year also signed Bennie Cunningham as an undrafted free agent. Stacy is the starter with Richardson and Cunningham behind him and Pead hardly sees the field. Rams are a great example of maximizing late picks on RBs.

Look at 2012. The Browns used the third overall pick on Trent Richardson and earlier in the 2013 season traded him to the Colts for a 2014 first rounder. At first glance, the trade seemed like a horrible decision. But Richardson has been brutal with the Colts.

Also in 2012, the Dolphins took current starter Lamar Miller in the fourth round and the Redskins took Alfred Morris in round 6. The Eagles drafted Bryce Brown in the 7th round; Brown had a lot of success last season when Lesean McCoy got hurt.

One of the best running backs in football is the Eagles' Lesean McCoy. McCoy was the 53rd overall draft pick in 2009. For comparison's sake, the Cardinals drafted Beanie Wells #31 that year. Wells is out of football now.

Along with McCoy, Jamaal Charles is one of the league's top running backs too. Charles was drafted in the third round in 2008. Here is a list of players drafted ahead of Charles - Darren McFadden (4), Jonathan Stewart (13), Felix Jones (22), Rashard Mendenhall (23), Chris Johnson (24), Matt Forte (44), Ray Rice (55), Kevin Smith (64), and than Jamaal Charles was drafted 73rd.

Joique Bell is the backup running back to Reggie Bush in Detroit right now. Bell was undrafted in 2010 and bounced around his first year in the league before finding a home with the Lions. In 2011, the Lions drafted Jahvid Best in the first round and in 2012 drafted Mikel Leshoure in the second round. Best is retired with concussion problems and Leshoure has been inactive all year.

Two running backs were drafted in the top 12 of the 2010 draft. Bills took CJ Spiller 8th and the Chargers took Ryan Mathews 12th. Both men have had their moments of productivity and Spiller is considered one of the league's top playmakers. But both men are too fragile and often injured, the nature of this position. Which makes it hard to justify using such high picks and guys who will break down so easily.

While not as injury-proned as Spiller and Mathews, both Doug Martin and David Wilson on currently on IR. Martin (31) and Wilson (32) were the other two RBs draft last season after Richardson went 3rd overall.

Going back to 2010, Spiller, Mathews and Best were all first round picks. But later in that draft was Shane Vereen (2), Steven Ridley (3), Demarco Murray (3), Kendall Hunter (4), Bilal Powell (4), and Jacquizz Rodgers (5), all of whom have had some form of success as a starter or backup. Some would say Ridley and Murray are better than Mathews. One constant with every RB in this draft is their injury history.

We can't write an article like this without mentioning Arian Foster was undrafted. Beanie Wells was a first round pick that year, but Arian Foster was undrafted. Glenn Coffee (round 4), Gartrell Jonhson (4), Frank Summers (5), Javarris Williams (7) were all drafted and Arian Foster was not...

You can never predict injuries, especially in the NFL. But running backs, especially the last few years, seem to be the most disposable of any position. As long as you have a strong offensive line, good quarterback play and a good scheme, you can realistically throw any running back in the game.

So no running backs were taken in the 2013 first round, which is amazing when you consider how successful some of this year's rookie backs have been. However due to the fragility of the position it is hard to justify using an early pick on the position in the future, especially when it is one with such fluidity.

Look at all the injuries this year - Arian Foster, Doug Martin, David Wilson, Ahmad Bradshaw., to name a few. Look at guys who have struggled - Trent Richardson, Ray Rice come to mind.

The 2014 draft will have some excellent RB prospects. Baylor's Lache Seastrunk, Kadeem Carey, Bishop Sankey, and Melvin Gordon will be among the top prospects. But looking at these recent trends it is questionable whether any of these guys will be first round picks.