Cleveland Browns: 2017 NFL Draft Projected Targets
By Peter Smith
Running Backs
D’Onta Foreman, Texas
Age: 21 (Born April 24, 1996)
Height: 6-0.25
Weight: 233 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.45s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10’
Vertical: 33″
3-Cone: DNP
Shuttle: DNP
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 323 carries for 2,028 yards at 6.28 yards per carry, 7 catches for 75 yards, 15 touchdowns
Notes: The biggest issue with Foreman is fumbles. Foreman put the ball on the carpet seven times this past season, losing six of them.
Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
Age: 21 (Born Sept. 16, 1995)
Height: 5-10.625
Weight: 233 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.65s (4.59 at Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 9’8″
Vertical: 33″
3-Cone: 7.26s
Shuttle: 4.37s
Bench: 30 reps
Production: 196 carries for 1,060 yards at 5.41 yards per carry, 10 receptions for 106 yards, 13 touchdowns
Notes: Part of a two-headed monster with Joe Mixon for the Sooners. Perine’s usage has actually gone down over the past two seasons as they’ve incorporated more of Mixon.
Jeremy McNichols, Boise State
Age: 21 (Born Dec. 26, 1995)
Height: 5-8.625
Weight: 214 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.49s
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Vertical: 35.5″
3-Cone: 6.93s
Shuttle: 4.28s
Bench: DNP
Production: 314 carries for 1,709 yards at 5.44 yards per carry, 37 receptions for 474 yards, 27 touchdowns
Notes: Had his redshirt removed as a true freshman week six of the season and then took the starting job after Jay Ajayi went to the NFL. In two season as the feature back, McNichols accounted for 4,141 total yards and 53 touchdowns.
Aaron Jones, UTEP
Age: 22 (Born Dec. 2, 1994)
Height: 5-9.125
Weight: 208 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.56s (4.58 at Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10’7″
Vertical: 37.5″ (36.5″ at Pro Day)
3-Cone: 6.82s
Shuttle: 4.2s
Bench: 16 reps
Production: 229 carries for 1,783 yards at 7.74 yards per carry, 28 receptions for 233 yards, 20 touchdowns
Notes: Aaron Jones and twin brother Alvin, a linebacker, stayed home to play UTEP. Jones suffered an ankle injury that required surgery ending his sophomore season after two games.
Kareem Hunt, Toledo
Age: 21 (Born Aug. 6, 1995)
Height: 5-10.5
Weight: 216 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.62s (4.57s at Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 9’11”
Vertical: 36.5″
3-Cone: 7.22s (Pro Day)
Shuttle: 4.37s (Pro Day)
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 262 carries for 1,475 yards at 5.63 yards per carry, 41 receptions for 403 yards, 11 touchdowns
Notes: Hunt was suspended two games in 2015 for an unspecified violation of team rules, though head coach Matt Campbell said he didn’t “…think it indicates the character of either of those two young men. It’s just a rule that we have within our program.”
Marlon Mack, South Florida
Age: Unavailable
Height: 5-10.75
Weight: 213 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.50s
Broad Jump: 10’5″
Vertical: 35.5″
3-Cone: DNP
Shuttle: DNP
Bench: 15 reps
Production: 174 carries for 1,187 yards at 6.82 yards per carry, 28 receptions for 227 yards, 15 touchdowns
Notes: Marlon Mack was moved all over the field in Willie Taggart’s offense because their leading rusher was quarterback Quinton Flowers. So in addition to being a traditional tailback, Mack has experience lining up all over formations including the slot.
Brian Hill, Wyoming
Age: 22 (Born Nov. 9, 1995)
Height: 6-0.625
Weight: 219 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.54s
Broad Jump: 10’5″
Vertical: 34″
3-Cone: 7.03s
Shuttle: 4.32s
Bench: 15 reps
Production: 349 carries for 1,860 yards at 5.33 yards per carry, 8 receptions for 67 yards, 22 touchdowns
Notes: A lot of attention has been paid to quarterback Josh Allen, but Hill has been the engine for the Cowboy offense. The past two seasons, Hill totaled 3,690 yards and 28 touchdowns.
James Conner, Pittsburgh
Age: 21 years old (Born May 5, 1995)
Height: 6-1.25
Weight: 233 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.65s
Broad Jump: 9’5″
Vertical: 29″
3-Cone: 7.41s (Pro Day)
Shuttle: 4.31s (Pro Day)
Bench: 20 reps
Production: 216 carries for 1,092 yards at 5.06 yards per carry, 21 receptions for 302 yards, 20 touchdowns
Notes: After an outstanding sophomore season that included 1,765 rushing yards at 5.92 yards per carry and 26 touchdowns, Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He returned this past season and has since been declared cancer free.
LeShun Daniels Jr, Iowa
Age: 21 (Born June 4, 1995)
Height: 5-10.875
Weight: 222 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.5s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 9’6″
Vertical: 36″
3-Cone: 6.94s
Shuttle: 4.17s
Bench: 21 reps
Production: 213 carries for 1,058 yards at 4.97 yards per carry, 8 receptions for 67 yards, 10 touchdowns
Notes: Overlooked back that split carries with highly touted Akrum Woodley but was productive in his own right this past season and was part of a three-headed rushing attack in 2015
Jamaal Williams, BYU
Age: Unavailable
Height: 6-0
Weight: 212 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.59s
Broad Jump: 10’3″
Vertical: 30″
3-Cone: 7.25s
Shuttle: 4.51s
Bench: DNP
Production: 234 carries for 1375 yards at 5.88 yards per carry, 7 receptions for 80 yards, 12 touchdowns
Notes: Williams was suspended for the 2016 season opener against Connecticut. The common assumption is that Williams violated BYU’s honor code with alcohol.
I’Tavius Mathers, Middle Tennessee State
Age: 23 (Born Nov. 19, 1993)
Height: 5-10.875
Weight: 203 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.41s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10’2″
Vertical: 32″
3-Cone: 7.17s
Shuttle: 4.36s
Bench: 21 reps
Production: 232 carries for 1,561 yards at 6.73 yards per carry, 66 receptions for 633 yards, 20 touchdowns
Notes: A major part of Hugh Freeze’s 2012 recruiting class, Mathers accounted for 1,210 total yards in three seasons with the Rebels before transferring to Middle Tennessee State in his home state.
Matt Breida, Georgia Southern
Age: 21 (Born Feb. 28, 1995)
Height: 5-10.5
Weight: 216 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.38s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 11’2″
Vertical: 42″
3-Cone: DNP
Shuttle: DNP
Bench: 23 reps
Production: 168 carries for 646 yards at 3.85 yards per carry, 11 receptions for 53 yards, 2 touchdowns
Notes: Georgia Southern had a disastrous 2016 season, finishing 5-7. The previous two seasons, Breida carried the ball 374 times for a total of 3,074 yards and 34 touchdowns with 11 catches for 103 yards and another touchdown.
T.J. Logan, North Carolina
Age: 22 (Born Sept. 3, 1994)
Height: 5-9.125
Weight: 196 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.37s
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Vertical: 33.5″
3-Cone: 6.61 (Pro Day)
Shuttle: 4.27 (Pro Day)
Bench: 17 reps
Production: 120 carries for 650 yards at 5.42 yards per carry, 29 receptions for 244 yards, 10 touchdowns
Notes: Logan was also the kick returner for the Tar Heels 77 times averaging 27.2 yards per return and four touchdowns. Between rushing yards, receiving yards and kick return yards Logan surpassed 1,000 yards all for years at North Carolina.