The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its 10-part series looking at the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft (April 28-30) with the running backs. This year’s class of tailbacks may not have a first-round pick, which is fine because the Miami Dolphins don’t have a selection in the first — or the second, for that matter. Despite adding Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert in free agency, the Dolphins could potentially use the infusion of a young ball carrier with one of either of their mid- or late-round picks remaining.
Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III
Walker led all Power-5 running backs in rushing in his one season at Michigan State after transferring from Wake Forest. He had 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns in helping lead the Spartans to an 11-2 record and win over Pitt in the Peach Bowl.
The 5-9 1/4, 211-pound back has a phenomenal combination of speed (4.38-second 40-yard dash) and power, which was exhibited when he played at Hard Rock Stadium last September and broke 20 tackles against the Miami Hurricanes as part of his 89 on the season, per Pro Football Focus.
Iowa State’s Breece Hall
When the run on running backs, likely to start in the second round, begins, Hall could also easily be the first one taken. He has an NFL-ready body at 5-11 1/4, 217 pounds, and he ran a 4.39-second 40 to boot.
Hall’s combine performance complemented his on-field production with the Cyclones where he ran for 1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns. He has size, speed and explosion.
Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller
Spiller has nearly an identical build to Hall at 6-0, 217. In his three years as an SEC tailback, he was consistently around 1,000 yards a season with a yards-per-carry average around 5.5. He also was good for 20-plus catches out of the backfield each of those campaigns.
Teams stacked the box against the Aggies in 2021, limiting his ability to break through for more production. His 4.55 40 indicates he doesn’t have blazing speed and may not contribute as much on third downs.
Georgia’s James Cook
The Miami Central High product certainly knows what it takes to find success at the NFL level from watching his older brother, Dalvin Cook, do it with the Vikings. Cook was always part of a crowded Bulldogs backfield, but he had his most production with 728 yards and seven touchdowns on 113 carries in 2021.
He will bring speed to whatever team drafts him but weighed in just under 200 pounds at the combine. Cook can also catch the ball out of the backfield with 27 receptions for 284 yards and four touchdowns for the national champs.
Alabama’s Brian Robinson Jr.
There were times watching Alabama last season where Robinson could have easily been confused with Najee Harris from the year before. His 225-pound frame wasn’t that far off from the powerful Harris, now a standout for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After rushing for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus another 296 and two touchdowns receiving, Robinson’s downhill running style will be coveted by a team looking for a bigger back to complement an elusive one already on the roster.
Best of the rest
Florida’s Dameon Pierce is also a physical runner with potential that may not have received as much attention on an underachieving 6-7 Gators team.
Cook’s backfield mate at Georgia, Zamir White, will be highly regarded as a 215-pound back that ran a 4.4 40. Notre Dame’s Kyren Williams, BYU’s Tyler Allgier, FSU’s Jashaun Corbin, FIU’s D’Vonte Price and Michigan’s Hassan Haskins are among a slew of others to keep an eye on.
Class grade: D-
Although the running back position hasn’t been valued as highly in recent memory as in the past, we’ve still seen first-round tailbacks. This draft could be the first since 2014 to not have one go in the first round.
Nonetheless, standout running backs can be manufactured in great situations with the right scheme and blocking up front, and there is talent that can be found, possibly on a bargain with where the top tailbacks are projected. The depth of the class doesn’t particularly stand out either, but gems can always be found at this position.
Teams in need
One could easily see teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears or New York Jets try to pick up one of the draft’s top runners and drop him onto their roster for immediate production.
The San Francisco 49ers, although they still ran the ball effectively after Mostert went down under new Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel when he was offensive coordinator last season, could also be among those vying for one.
Dolphins’ focus
With McDaniel’s outside-zone scheme and improvements made on the offensive line through additions of left tackle Terron Armstead and guard Connor Williams, any running back brought to Miami would be happy to be inserted in this situation.
The combination of free-agent signings Edmonds and Mostert, along with Myles Gaskin returning, serve as a solid tandem, but it’s still a backfield that doesn’t have any one elite all-around back. Without a pick in the first two rounds, the Dolphins are unlikely to snag a top tailback unless they trade back up into that second round, but the running back position was certainly one thought of as a focus for Miami this draft before the signings and trading of those picks for receiver Tyreek Hill.
One more running back to get inserted into competition with Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Gerrid Doaks is a possibility, but it’s no longer as dire of a need as it was at the start of the offseason. McDaniel likes to spread carries around, too, so the workload shouldn’t be taxing on anyone in this backfield.
Previously addressed
Miami Dolphins’ NFL draft options: Quarterbacks
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