Former Alabama Crimson Tide star Eddie Lacy entered the 2013 NFL Draft as the top-rated running back by a number of scouts and members of the draftnik community, but he fall on draft day and wasn’t selected until the bottom of round two by the Green Bay Packers. One of the teams that was expected to select Lacy was the Denver Broncos, but Denver passed on the Alabama rusher in favor of Wisconsin’s Montee Ball.
While it was surprising to see Lacy fall in the draft, Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell shed some light on why the team went with Ball instead.
From Lindsay Jones of USA TODAY Sports:
Matt Russell said Broncos liked Eddie Lacy but back off because of concerns about his toe and how many yrs he could play.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) May 7, 2013
That is very troubling for Lacy, but it certainly explains why a number of running back needy teams passed on his services.
As an endorsement for Ball, VP John Elway compared the team’s rookie to former Broncos star running back Terrell Davis.
If Ball can live up to that comparison and Lacy’s toe/foot becomes a serious issue moving forward, then the Broncos will have clearly made the right decision to pass on the national champion in favor of the Wisconsin product.
Only time will tell.