Teams with a need at running back will have a few interesting prospects to choose from in the 2016 NFL Draft.
For the past few seasons, a major theme in NFL has been the devaluation of the running back position.
Recent trends in the NFL Draft have proven that notion especially true. Teams have spent high draft picks on weapons in the passing game (or the defensive pieces to slow it down), while saving running backs for the later rounds.
That changed in the 2015 NFL Draft, at least to some extent. Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon were both selected in the top 15, the highest a running back has been picked since Trent Richardson went second overall in 2012.
However, many teams were able to still find running back value in the later rounds. The Arizona Cardinals selected standout rookie David Johnson in the third round, while Thomas Rawls of the Seattle Seahawks wasn’t drafted at all.
Expect that to continue for the most part in the 2016 NFL Draft. Ezekiel Elliott of the Ohio State Buckeyes should go in the first round, but it would be a surprise if any other running back joined him before the second.
Still, there are plenty of teams with needs at running back who will be searching for the same type of value that Seattle and Arizona got last year. The Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans are among the teams who will likely select a running back at some point in the middle rounds.
While this class of running backs may not have quite the same level of top-end talent as 2015, it has some intriguing prospects for teams to look at later on. These 10 running backs have separated themselves as the best of the class of 2016 and should hear their names called in late April.
Next: No. 10