NFL HC Says Elite QBs, WRs, Edge Rushers Take Priority Over RB Amid Jeanty Draft Buzz

An NFL head coach believes that "elite quarterbacks, receivers, and edge rushers" take precedence over running backs in the draft, according to ESPN's Ben Baby.

Despite Boise State's Ashton Jeanty leading the nation in rushing by nearly 1,000 yards with 2,601 and scoring 29 touchdowns, his draft stock remains modest due to the recent trend of running backs sliding in the draft.

The last time a running back was selected with the No. 1 overall pick was 30 years ago, when the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Ki-Jana Carter out of Penn State in 1995. With the University of Miami’s Cam Ward currently projected as the No. 1 pick by the Bleacher Report Scouting Department, it appears that drought will continue for at least another year.

Still, Jeanty remains optimistic about the state of running backs in the NFL draft.

"It's a great time to be coming into this league," Jeanty said, per Baby. "I can see the value of running backs is definitely going to go back up. Definitely coming back in at a perfect time."

It is indeed the perfect time to revisit the value of running backs following a breakout season from Super Bowl champion Saquon Barkley, who led the league with 2,005 rushing yards and added 13 touchdowns for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Still, the versatility and long-term value of running backs continue to be questioned, especially when compared to the impact of other positions.

"It's like hiring a person that can hit home runs versus someone who can play good defense and hit singles," Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead said, per Baby. "You need both, but you probably get drafted earlier -- maybe in the first round -- if you're that person who can win the offensive scheme and players give that person a crease and he gets 60 (yards) instead of 12.5 or eight."

Other stars like New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara and San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey continue to showcase how valuable dynamic running backs can be, making them strong comparisons for Ashton Jeanty’s potential at the next level.

"Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, I get compared to those guys all the time," Jeanty said, per Baby. "It's a good thing to be able to be so versatile. Not only does that (increase) my draft stock, but it helps my game even more."

The NFL Draft kicks off on April 24 and will conclude on April 26.