2021 NFL Draft: Best landing spots for the top Senior Bowl performers
Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana: New York Jets
Once the top rushers fall off the board, teams looking for a back should have Elijah Mitchell‘s name on their draft board. The New York Jets are one of those teams.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Whether land Deshaun Watson in a trade, keep Sam Darnold or draft a quarterback, the Jets need a running back. They don’t have to rush to find a guy with versatility. Mitchell is an underrated versatile back who could work well in Mike LaFleur’s system.
In college, Mitchell was primarily used as a downhill runner. He used his 5-10, 215-pound frame well when fighting through arm tackles. He was a one-cut runner who had enough speed to make big plays happen.
During Senior Bowl week, he showed he’s a lot quicker than you’d expect. He’s decisive with light feet and the ability to make guys miss. In a zone-blocking scheme, his decisiveness will come into play. Thanks to his lateral agility and one cut style, he’s capable of exploiting creases.
An underrated quality about Mitchell is reliability in the passing game. In college, he caught fewer than 20 passes in a single season, but it wasn’t for lack of skill. During the Senior Bowl practices, he showed soft hands, quickness in and out of breaks, making him a potential three-down back. The Jets can grab Michell on Day 3 with confidence he could be their feature back.