Running Back Rankings 2023 NFL Draft

Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) runs the ball against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.  Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) runs the ball against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

RUNNING BACK RANKINGS 2023 NFL DRAFT

Running back has become an increasingly marginalized position as far as the NFL draft goes lately, with only a solitary back being selected in the top round over the past two years - and that pick (Clyde Edwars-Helaire KC) barely made it -- at number 32. Teams now generally undervalue the position and have come to the consensus opinion that quality can be had later in the draft and still provide production on the field.

This drought of high-running back sections may be coming to an end in 2023 thanks to Texas Longhorn Bijan Robinson - he’s a dominator at every level of the game. This former five-star recruit has ideal size at 6-0 220, explosive speed, the power to move the pile along with the natural instincts you look for at the position. Twenty years ago he would be viewed as a candidate for the top overall pick, in 2023, with luck he’ll make the top half of the opening round.

There’s a bit of drop-off after Robinson but still, talent can be found in the form of Alabama’s Jahamyr Gibbs, who’s not only is a shifty back with power he also excels in the receiving game.
Zack Evans from Ole Miss has a similar level of talent – he’s a natural runner and an impressive athlete who struggled with injuries in 2021 while at TCU. He transferred to Ole Miss in the off-season with the hope of gaining more exposure and especially production - and so this year will be make or break for him.
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LAST UPDATED: 04/21/2024

Player Rankings - Running Back

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
15

RB
Deuce
Vaughn

5-5 179lbs 4.56
RB
DAL   Mascot
DAL Mascot
179lbs 5-5 4.56 23 143.5
81.8
Flashes initial burst and good lateral quickness to sidestep defenders or bounce runs outside with very good foot quickness. Displays very...
4

RB
Blake
Corum

5-8 205lbs 4.53
RB
LAR   Mascot
LAR Mascot
205lbs 5-8 4.53 6 64.3
84.8
Blake Corum exhibits a rare combination of short-area burst, twitchy lateral movement, and a low center of gravity that's sure to...
20

RB
Mohamed
Ibrahim

5-8 203lbs 4.52
RB
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
203lbs 5-8 4.52 26 188.4
79.0
He’s solid in blitz pickup, and Ibrahim consistently showed the ability to anchor against bigger players. Difficult to bring down...
12

RB
Keaton
Mitchell

5-8 179lbs 4.37
RB
East Carolina   Mascot
East Carolina Mascot
179lbs 5-8 4.37 24 174.7
82.4
Mitchell keeps his pads low and consistently falls forward. Unlike most backs his size, Mitchell has the lateral movement and stop-start...
3

RB
Devon
Achane

5-8 188lbs 4.32
RB
MIA   Mascot
MIA Mascot
188lbs 5-8 4.32 8 63.1
86.2
Devon Achane is a special player who could be the fastest player in all of college football - his combine forty will be fun to watch! In...
31

RB
Jarek
Broussard

5-9 185lbs 4.66
RB
Michigan State   Mascot
Michigan State Mascot
185lbs 5-9 4.66 42 479.7
61.8
Once Broussard plants his foot, he’s explosive moving upfield, and his 0-to-60 acceleration is enough to catch defenses...
7

RB
Sean
Tucker

5-9 207lbs 4.54
RB
Syracuse   Mascot
Syracuse Mascot
207lbs 5-9 4.54 20 126.6
84.0
Tucker finishes runs well and flashes the ability to get small and squeeze through traffic. He’s a quality receiver with soft hands,...
2

RB
Jahmyr
Gibbs

5-9 199lbs 4.36
RB
DET   Mascot
DET Mascot
199lbs 5-9 4.36 2 26.6
87.5
Gibbs is an extremely talented runner and one of the most malleable talents the league has seen in a long time. It is rare to see a RB...
19

RB
Travis
Dye

5-10 201lbs 4.82
RB
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
201lbs 5-10 4.82 29 245.2
79.9
Dye has a naturally low center of gravity and knows how to use it to his advantage, staying low and playing peek-a-boo behind linemen and...
14

RB
Eric
Gray

5-10 207lbs 4.62
RB
NYG   Mascot
NYG Mascot
207lbs 5-10 4.62 22 141.4
82.1
Gray runs with violence; he’s capable of thrashing through tacklers, and Gray has the natural balance to withstand contact. A compact...
5

RB
Tyjae
Spears

5-10 201lbs 4.54
RB
TEN   Mascot
TEN Mascot
201lbs 5-10 4.54 12 80.7
84.0
Spears is elite as a receiver. He runs routes as well as most receivers and has natural hands, snatching the ball away from his body. He’s...
6

RB
DeWayne
McBride

5-10 209lbs 4.52
RB
MIN   Mascot
MIN Mascot
209lbs 5-10 4.52 16 104.9
84.0
DeWayne McBride is a difficult prospect to evaluate. He is an outstanding traditional power back who has put up incredible numbers at the...

2023 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Running Back

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2023 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Running Back

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.