2020 NFL Draft: Best running back option in all 7 rounds

Round 5: AJ Dillon, Boston College

The days of the old-school power back were thought to be long gone. That was until Derrick Henry ran the Tennessee Titans into the playoffs as the NFL leading rusher with 1,540 and 16 touchdowns.

Maybe, this is setting the bar a little high for Boston College’s leading rusher, AJ Dillon. After all, Henry played at Alabama and he was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Still, it’s hard to ignore the similarities between Dillon and Henry.

Let’s look at his metrics. At the combine, Dillon’s broad and vertical jumps tested above the 95th percentile, according to MockDraftable. He also ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at 6-0, 247 pounds. At Boston College, the big-bodied back dominated with three seasons over 1,000 yards. He finished his career with 4,382 yards and 38-touchdowns.

Dillon is a scheme-specific downhill runner without much wiggle or short-area quickness. Being suited for a gap offense limits where he’d go which is why I see him falling to the fifth round. Don’t sleep on his traits though. He’s tough to bring down and despite being tall, he plays with a decent pad level. Dillon falls forward, delivers punishment, and makes for a solid blocker on passing downs.

At worst, he’s a short-yardage specialist but he could dominate on early-downs and surprise with his production.