Cameron Artis-Payne to Carolina Panthers: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The Carolina Panthers closed their book on the 2015 NFL draft with the selection of Auburn Tigers running back Cameron Artis-Payne with the No. 174 overall pick.

Artis-Payne exploded onto the scene last season, picking up 1,608 yards on 303 carries with 13 touchdowns.  That was good enough to lead the SEC in both yards and carries, so he proved he could carry a load as well as do it with a degree of efficiency.  His 316 plays from scrimmage were eighth in the country last season.

Artis-Payne had the fourth-highest elusive rating against opponents from Power 5 conferences, according to College Football Focus.  That measures success in terms of missed tackles and yards after contact—in other words, what the runner can generate himself, independent of blocking.  That high score surprised me, as Artis-Payne didn’t show a lot of agility, neither in college nor at the combine.

Artis-Payne’s ability as a downhill runner was the reason for the high score.  At 5’10” and 212 pounds, he’s short and stocky, presenting a solid frame that allows him to bang the ball between the tackles.  He doesn’t move the pile or juke in open space, but he forced 59 missed tackles against major competition—more than anyone else CFF charted.

He has a solid spin move to help force those missed tackles and an underrated burst to slip past defenders.  His 4.53-second 40-yard dash won’t wow anyone, but he gets to his top speed surprisingly quickly for a back of his size.

I don’t want to oversell Artis-Payne here; there’s a reason he’s a fifth-round selection.  He doesn’t bring anything particularly special to the table.  Other backs are faster or stronger or harder to tackle.  Other backs have more experience or better measurables.  I doubt you’re going to see Artis-Payne in the Pro Bowl anytime soon.

That’s OK, though; that’s not what the Panthers were looking for in the fifth round.  They need someone else to help soak up carries to save Jonathan Stewart; Stewart is injury-prone and inconsistent—but special.  The hope, then, is that Artis-Payne is consistent and solid if nothing special.  He’s the safety net and the backstop for when Stewart is unavailable.

Running back was the position of biggest need remaining for the Panthers.  DeAngelo Williams is gone, and Stewart has never been a bellcow back, topping out at 221 carries in 2009.  He needs someone to split time with in order to remain fresh and productive.

Artis-Payne was the best running back left on the board, trumping the likes of LSU’s Terrence Magee, Yale’s Tyler Varga and Texas’ Malcolm Brown.  You could have made an argument for a safety or defensive end here, but filling the biggest remaining need with the best player available is rarely going to be a poor decision.

The Panthers have been trying to find a Day 3 running back for the past few years.  They swung and missed on Kenjon Barner in 2013 and Tyler Gaffney in 2014.  Artis-Payne will break that streak.  He should take the primary reserve running back role away from Fozzy Whittaker, providing solid and frequent production for the Panthers.

Bryan Knowles is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the Carolina Panthers during the NFL Draft.  Follow him @BryKno on Twitter.