The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its nine-part series previewing the top players in the 2024 NFL draft (April 25-27) with running backs.
This year’s crop isn’t necessarily talent-laden but good players can be found in the second round.
The Miami Dolphins seem set with running back depth among Pro Bowl selection Raheem Mostert, speedy De’Von Achane, hard-running Jeff Wilson Jr., speedy Salvon Ahmed, big-bodied Chris Brooks and Pro Bowl fullback Alec Ingold.
However, with all due respect to Brooks, the Dolphins could use a power back.
As a reminder, the Dolphins have six picks in the draft — one in the first round (No. 21), one in the second (No. 55), one in the fifth (No. 158), two in the sixth (Nos. 184 and 198), and one in the seventh (No. 241).
Here’s a breakdown of the top running backs in the draft:
Jonathon Brooks, Texas
Brooks (1,139 yards rushing, 10 TDs, 6.1 yards per carry) tore his ACL in November. But his elusiveness and receiving ability in a small sample size (he was Bijan Robinson’s backup last season) are too tempting to ignore.
Trey Benson, Florida State
Benson (905 yards rushing, 14 YDs, 5.8 ypc) combines good size (6-0, 215 pounds) with good running ability and a knack for running downhill. His hands are OK, as is his pass blocking, both of which could keep him on the field on third down.
Will Shipley, Clemson
Shipley (827 yards rushing, 5 TDs, 5.0 ypc) combines versatility from scrimmage with special teams skills, meaning he should be in the league for a long time. He had 210 carries in 2022, and more than 30 receptions in 2022 and 2023.
Bucky Irving, Oregon
Irving (1,180 yards rushing, 11 TDs, 6.3 ypc) is an electrifying runner with a knack for big plays. His hands make him a candidate as a third-down receiver. Last season he had 56 receptions and two years ago he had 31 receptions.
Blake Corum, Michigan
Corum (1,245 yards rushing, 27 TDs, 4.8 ypc) combines vision and footwork with an ability to find the end zone. Corum runs hard and plays hard, and his determination and grit make up for his lack of wiggle and outright speed.
Best of the rest
Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright (1,013 yards rushing, 4 TDs, 7.4 yards per carry); USC’s MarShawn Lloyd (820 yards rushing, 9 TDs, 7.1 ypc) has good elusiveness and could be a third-down back; Kentucky’s Ray Davis (1,129 yards rushing, 14 TDs, 5.7 ypc) is a solid three-down back who has toughness but not a lot of speed; Notre Dame’s Audric Estime (1,341 yards rushing, 18 TDs, 6.4 ypc); Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen (984 yards rushing, 12 TDs, 5.4 ypc) is a big kid (235 pounds) who could be a sleeper.
Class Grade: C+
There isn’t any star power. The guy some have regarded as the best — Texas’ Jonathan Brooks — is coming off an ACL injury. But it’s a class that could provide quality role players into the second round.
Teams in need
Arizona, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Indianapolis, Dallas, Buffalo, Kansas City
Dolphins’ focus
The Dolphins surprised us last season by drafting Achane in the third round when they already had Mostert, Wilson, and Ahmed. So anything is possible. But it’s highly unlikely the Dolphins would draft a running back in the first two rounds.
