New England Patriots: Making a case for running back Todd Gurley

By Nick Ziegler | Apr 20, 2015

The 2015 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and for the New England Patriots, they will be looking to add talent to help them repeat as Super Bowl champions.

There are certainly a few areas of need for the Patriots heading into the 2015 season, as they lost a few players in free agency without really replacing them. One of the positions that they took a few losses in was at running back. Shane Vereen signed a multi-year deal with the New York Giants, and Stevan Ridley who missed most of last season after tearing his ACL, signed with the New York Jets.

With the losses of Vereen and Ridley, adding a running back sometime in the NFL Draft makes sense for the Patriots. According to Mike Giardi of CSNNE.com, former Georgia running back Todd Gurley will be visiting the Patriots next week. There hasn’t been a running back drafted in the first-round since 2012, but that should change this season, as Gurley and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon are both expected to be first-round picks.

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Gurley could very well be one of the best running back prospects to come out of college in the last few years. The main reason why Gurley likely won’t be selecte d n the Top 15 of the draft is because he is coming off of a torn ACL that he suffered during the season. When Gurley was on the field for Georgia he was a noticeable difference maker.

In his freshman season, Gurley took the SEC by storm by rushing for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns while fashioning a 6.2 yards per carry average. In the receiving game, Gurley was also a factor in his freshman season, as he totaled 117 receiving yards on 17 catches. In 2012, Gurley also would take kick-returns on occasion, as on seven returns he averaged 34.7 yards per return with one touchdown.

Gurley would follow his great freshman year with a solid sophomore season. In 10 games in 2013, Gurley would total 989 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, and improve as a pass-catcher totaling 37 receptions, 441 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.

Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) runs as offensive tackle John Theus (71) blocks Auburn Tigers defensive back Robenson Therezie (27) in the third quarter of their game at Sanford Stadium. Georgia won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Gurley’s junior season would be cut short due to being suspended four games for violating NCAA rules, and then upon his return tearing his ACL. 2014 looked like it was going to be a ridiculous season for Gurley statistically if he was able to play a full season. In just six games, Gurley put up stats that running backs would have been happy with for a whole season.

In 2014, Gurley totaled 911 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, and 7.2 yards per carry. Like in his freshman season, Gurley would have a few kick-returns as well, as on four returns, he had one touchdown, and a 44.8 return average.

In many mock drafts, Gurley is being drafted earlier than where the Patriots are drafting, as Gordon is closer to where the Patriots will be picking in the first-round. The Patriots bringing in Gurley for a visit could be a possible indication that the Patriots will be looking to move up in the draft to select the talented running back.

If Gurley’s knee is healing well, he is the best running back in the draft, and would also have the value of being a Top 10 overall talent. With the Patriots’ need for a running back, Gurley would be a great choice, and also bring the capability of being an every-down back in New England.

Next: Is Melvin Gordon a better fit for Patriots than Todd Gurley?

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