2020 NFL Draft: Best running back option in all 7 rounds
The 2020 NFL Draft features a ton of talented running backs and these are the best options in every round depending on where your team takes one.
Running backs have been devalued in the NFL according to popular opinion. Having said that, look no further than the two Super Bowl participants, the Chiefs and 49ers, to see that having a ground game remains important. However, where to take a running back in the 2020 NFL Draft (or any draft) remains a hot-button issue.
There are no doubt still featured backs in the NFL who play every down and, subsequently, we’ve seen players such as Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, Saquon Barkley and more taken as first-round picks. However, running backs come in all shapes and sizes, bringing diverse skill-sets to the league. What skills they bring, however, can affect where they’re taken in the NFL Draft.
Valuable backs in the NFL have gone all over the draft. Nick Chubb, Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry were all Day 2 picks. Aaron Jones, who led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2019, and Marlon Mack didn’t come off the board until Day 3. And Seahawks running back Chris Carson wasn’t selected until the seventh round.
Teams still need and can use running backs. However, they don’t have to take one in the first round. There are valuable players at the position in every round. Here, we’ll look at who should be the top running back available in every round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Round 1: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
While Jonathan Taylor is the better athlete and JK Dobbins had better college numbers, D’Andre Swift is the better back and should hear his name called on Day 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft. Swift is a potential starter on Day 1 with the traits and skills of a veteran.
Swift already knows how to manipulate defenses by using his offensive linemen. At the line of scrimmage, he’s patent and keeps his feet moving. He presses his offensive line, using them to set up secondary defenders.
When a hole opens, he sticks his foot in the dirt and explodes through it. More importantly, he can create something out of nothing due to his fluid hips, vision and ability to exploit even the smallest creases. I
n the open field, he may not wow you with elite speed, but he has plenty of juice. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash. Swift doesn’t juke defenders from afar. Instead, he presses the tackler and cuts off him. He’s slippery with great contact balance and a decent finisher.
At Georgia, he proved to be a useful weapon out of the backfield hauling in 56 catches and four touchdowns. Thanks to his agility, fluidity and soft hands, he offers big-time potential as a receiver. Georgia has a history of running back talent and D’Andre Swift is up next.