Best Landing Spots, Scheme Fits for Top RB Prospects in 2024 NFL Draft
Throw away box scores and individual stats during the NFL draft evaluation process—especially when it comes to running backs.
Prospects whose combination of size, speed and ability in space annually separate the draft's who's who. The film of this year's group provides a wide range of outcomes as to where the top ball-carriers could fall come April.
Considering every NFL team's omnipresent need for athletes to create mismatches, win in the trenches and add flex weapons in space, let's dive into the upcoming draft's top scheme fits at running back. When cultivating this list, all components—individual skill set, team surroundings, predraft conversations within league circles, etc.—were considered.
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
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A highly touted recruit as a prep athlete, Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson has taken the necessary steps to check many of the boxes scouts look for in a potential lead ball-carrier on Sundays.
While the 2024 class fails to showcase a talent parallel to the tandem of 2023 first-rounders in Bijan Robinson (8th overall) and Jahmyr Gibbs (12th), Henderson could be the cream of the crop this spring due to his patience, contact balance and familiarity in both gap and zone running schemes.
As good as he is on the ground, the 21-year-old displays a high level of comfort in space, where he showcases smooth hands and an underutilized ability as a route-runner.
Team Fits: Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders
Trey Benson, Florida State
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Don't be shocked if Trey Benson is the first ball-carrier to hear his name called come springtime.
An exciting blend of size (6'1"), twitch and top-end speed (expected mid-4.30-second runner in the 40-yard dash), the Florida State standout could be a final piece to an offensive puzzle in the NFL.
The ability to take it the distance on any given down is a trait reserved for few. For Benson, a lightning-quick throttle allows him to work up to fifth gear in the blink of an eye.
Add in quick footwork to hit cutback lanes and production in the ACC (23 TDs the last two seasons combined) and many NFL GMs would be excited at the opportunity to add Benson.
Team Fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens
Blake Corum, Michigan
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Blake Corum has been one of college football's headlining athletes over the last few years, and his evaluation remains fluid.
While many prospects in the class have had their evaluations finalized as we move toward the new year, Corum's remains tricky considering the front five he's operated behind the last few seasons at Michigan.
Since the dawn of football, a running back's success has been tied to the prowess of the bodies along the offensive line. Can they displace opponents? Are they sealers instead of relocators?
Some lines are simply better than others, and Corum has run behind a group of athletes who have distorted opposing lines for seasons on end. Thus, making the evaluation tough if he were to land in a spot with a below-average group in the trenches.
Make no mistake about it, though: His vision, footwork and physicality pop off the screen when you turn on the tape. While some teams could shy away because of the reasoning mentioned and the wear on the tires from his time in Ann Arbor (636 career carries), he should become a high-level rotational piece.
Team Fits: Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions
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MarShawn Lloyd, USC
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Keep a keen eye on MarShawn Lloyd as we get deeper into the process.
He's an early favorite among scouts to rise following his week at the Senior Bowl, and his blend of power and speed would be an excellent addition to any offense.
A 210-pound prospect who has the unique ability to run around, through and over defenders, Lloyd is a lot to handle in the open field, and he has the quickness and wiggle to churn yards with consistency.
A transfer to USC after multiple seasons spent at South Carolina, Lloyd finished second among 65 qualified Power Five running backs (minimum 115 carries), averaging 7.1 yards per carry, per PFF. The running mate to Caleb Williams in the Trojans backfield in the fall, Lloyd should continue to rise up draft boards as the process continues.
Team Fits: Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans
Will Shipley, Clemson
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Watching Will Shipley's tape just in 2023 wouldn't be doing the Clemson star justice.
Following an electric 2022 in which the highly touted recruit amassed 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, his true junior season left much to be desired from a production standpoint (798 yards, five TDs).
However, the draft process (as much as production helps) is about bringing the microscope in and nitpicking what a player does well and how it could translate to the NFL.
For Shipley, there isn't much that will stop front offices from turning in his draft card. Size (5'11", 210 lbs), initial burst, toughness, comfort in space—he's a versatile talent in an age when versatility remains king. His ability to bounce in and out of alleys is superb, as well.
Team Fits: Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers
Bucky Irving, Oregon
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Don't blink when you turn on Bucky Irving's tape from this fall, you could miss the Oregon standout.
One of the class' most electric, elusive offensive weapons, Irving will be a nightmare to counter the moment he steps onto NFL-branded turf.
While this year's talent pool of running backs features a long list of bigger, more physical ball-carriers, the 5'10", 195-pound Irving provides a fresh taste to the palate at the position.
Success on the offensive side is about winning matchups, and Irving has the prowess both as a ball-carrier and flex weapon to present a unique chesspiece to an offense. He'll thrive quickly within an attack led by a creative offensive mind.
Team Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins
Donovan Edwards, Michigan
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While the attention has centered around Blake Corum the last few years at Michigan, Donovan Edwards has continued to fight for carries and is someone whose best football could remain ahead.
He's an impressively built athlete at 6'1", 210 pounds, so don't let the lack of production this fall (631 yards from scrimmage) fool you into thinking he can't compete or succeed at the next level.
Everything comes with context. For Edwards, playing second-fiddle to Corum hasn't made it easy on scouts as they attempt to finalize their positional boards. And, it's unclear if Edwards will indeed declare for the draft.
Yet, general managers love fresh tread on the tires out of college, and if Edwards finds himself in a spot competing for rotational snaps, he could drastically outplay his potential draft slot early in his career.
Team Fits: Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots
Jonathon Brooks, Texas
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Prior to suffering a torn ACL that cut short his sophomore season at Texas, Jonathon Brooks was looked upon in many league circles as the top running back in the class.
Now, it's unclear if Brooks will officially forgo his remaining eligibility, but should he declare, an organization will be forced into playing the long game with an expected rehab timeline of close to a year.
The injury has thrown a wrench into finalizing his evaluation. However, when healthy, Brooks has showcased a high-level skill set that shouldn't take long to translate to the NFL. A season after backing up 2023 first-round pick Bijan Robinson, Brooks has the vision, footwork and physicality at contact to be one of the more complete backs in the class.
Should he declare, there'll be a long list of teams champing at the bit to add his skill set.
Team Fits: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys
Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
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A massive man who runs with nasty intentions, Wisconsin's Braelon Allen will quickly become a fan favorite wherever he lands next spring.
Recruited out of high school as a linebacker, the 6'2", 245-pound ball-carrier combines a throwback type of frame with a modern athletic profile to make defenders miss in space.
Still just 19 years old after spending three seasons at Wisconsin, he'll represent one of the youngest prospects in the class. He also posted 3,769 yards from scrimmage in the Big Ten.
A downhill runner who's best when attacking creases on inside zone runs, a team in need of a physical, youthful running back will have Allen high on its positional board.
Team Fits: Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears
Audric Estime, Notre Dame
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One of college football's most productive running backs in 2023, Audric Estime enters the predraft process with a substantial amount of buzz.
He was the hefty straw that stirred the drink for the Notre Dame offense, and the 6'0", 225-pound Estime's 18 trips to the end zone were fourth in the country. What made his production even more impressive were the ways in which defenses looked to counter the Fighting Irish's runner, often stacking the box. Still, Estime churned out 1,341 yards in 2023, going over the 100-yard plateau in six of his 12 starts. Teams simply couldn't stop him on the ground.
His best projection remains as a between-the-tackles, downhill runner who serves as the power back in a split-carry backfield.
Team Fits: Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints
Ray Davis, Kentucky
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A transfer from Vanderbilt by way of Temple, Kentucky's Ray Davis burst onto the scene this fall, rushing for over 1,000 yards on nearly six yards per carry in the SEC.
Another physical ball-carrier of note in a class loaded with running backs not shy about lowering their shoulder, Davis shows the shifty footwork and ability to work up fifth-gear in an instant, which makes him an intriguing prospect for a team in need of fresh legs in the backfield.
He's expected to attend the Senior Bowl, and a good week at one of the draft's premier showcases should see his name rise.
Team Fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
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If you're a fan of chesspieces on offense, get to know the name Dylan Laube.
A small-school standout out of New Hampshire (FCS), Laube's most popular pro comparison within scouting circles has been former New England Patriots weapon Danny Woodhead. A shifty ball-carrier with the lateral agility to attack creases in the blink of an eye, Laube shows the skill set as a pass-catcher to raise eyebrows this winter. Expected to attend the Senior Bowl in early February, he'll likely shine in one-on-one reps as a receiver.
Although his immediate path to snaps as an early-down back remains muddied, his nuanced game as a route-runner coupled with extremely good hands will present a unique flex weapon.
Team Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
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South Dakota State produced running back Pierre Strong Jr. just a few years ago, but don't be shocked if Isaiah Davis hears his name sooner than Strong (127th overall) did in 2022.
One of the upcoming draft's most talked-about FCS talents, Davis sports an NFL frame with the blend of size (6'1", 220 lbs), speed and explosiveness every team covets.
When evaluating players from the lower levels, scouts want to see production. And lots of it. For Davis, nearly 3,000 yards on the ground and 32 touchdowns in just the last two seasons will absolutely play.
He is expected to attend the East-West Shrine Bowl (alongside teammates Garret Greenfield and Mason McCormick), and his success against some of the top draft-eligible defenders will paint a clear picture for scouts attempting to finalize his evaluation.
Team Fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders
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