1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
There’s a compelling case to be made that no running back should ever be drafted in the first round. That hasn’t stopped teams from selecting them. As such, it’s possible that Edwards-Helaire could sneak into the bottom of this year’s first round.
The biggest knock against him at the pro level is that he’s not an elite athlete. Edwards-Helaire isn’t the sort of player you can count on to turn ordinary plays into 80-yard touchdowns.
He is, however, a back you can count on to maximize what’s available for him on each play. He’s just slippery enough to create valuable yards after contact. The former LSU star also has enough size to bounce off defenders that try to slow him down with arm tackles.
Edwards-Helaire isn’t destined for stardom, but he’s ready to contribute for a good team immediately. That quality is going to make him a tempting prospect for playoff teams looking for one more offensive weapon in this draft.
Taking a running back at the end of Round 1 isn’t going to represent good value for anyone, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen for Edwards-Helaire. Keep a very close eye on his status the moment D’Andre Swift goes off the board.