2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: RB

JustInTime wrote:

Let’s say Jeanty goes to Vegas, Chicago, or Dallas. Denver could go Henderson or Hampton. Pittsburgh I could see Hampton, Johnson or Judkins. 

Worst case scenario is Johnson is the best RB left. With our reconfigured iOL, I think that’s an ok option any other year. Depending on the CBs, iDL, S left I go elsewhere. 

Emmanwori would be such a fun chess piece. Revel would give the CB room size. Harmon or Alexander would provide great rotational options and depth. Then assuming additional draft capital is acquired, hit RB with Harvey and Martinez. That works.

Do me a favor and watch Johnson and Martinez back to back. Similar size, but Martinez can move laterally. His feet are so much better. And Martinez is a 4th rounder at best. I don't hate Johnson. I don't think he's going to be a bust necessarily. I just think we can do better. There are at least 5 or 6 backs I'd take ahead of KJ. 

Didn't really watch the safeties since I didn't think we'd go there, but now it's a real possibility. Emmanwori is 6-3, 220 lbs, has a 10.00 RAS, a 4.39 forty and a 43 vert. That's insane. BFlo's gotta be salivating. But is he Kyle Hamilton or Taylor Mays?

MaroonBells wrote:

Do me a favor and watch Johnson and Martinez back to back. Similar size, but Martinez can move laterally. His feet are so much better. And Martinez is a 4th rounder at best. I don't hate Johnson. I don't think he's going to be a bust necessarily. I just think we can do better. There are at least 5 or 6 backs I'd take ahead of KJ. 

Didn't really watch the safeties since I didn't think we'd go there, but now it's a real possibility. Emmanwori is 6-3, 220 lbs, has a 10.00 RAS, a 4.39 forty and a 43 vert. That's insane. BFlo's gotta be salivating. But is he Kyle Hamilton or Taylor Mays?

You know I’ve been on Martinez for months. I’ll just say a RB from Miami is quite the karma pick. Definitely has niftier feet. Johnson is a beige Ford Taurus. 

Mays was always better suited for Wil, which I think he eventually ended up at. Emmanwori is Atwater, Easley on steroids. Coverage skills to play big nickel. You could play him at LB on passing downs. I think I’d sell my soul to have 3 picks in the top 80.

RJ Harvey. Can be had probably had in Round 4 (might be a smidge high)-6 (Too low for him but I'd love it). He's going to go higher than analysts and fans think. He's like Jerick McKinnon.

From GBN;

Also earlier this week, Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson, another player who did not run at the combine, reportedly was clocked in the 4.45 range for the 40 at the Vols pro day. However, that was a hand-timed clocking which as we have noted in the past can be as much as a tenth of a second slower than electronic times meaning that it is very likely Sampson’s actual time is likely to be more in the low 4.5 range which is not necessarily the kind of speed scouts were hoping to see from a 5-8, 200-pound scatback type

supafreak84 wrote:
From GBN;

Also earlier this week, Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson, another player who did not run at the combine, reportedly was clocked in the 4.45 range for the 40 at the Vols pro day. However, that was a hand-timed clocking which as we have noted in the past can be as much as a tenth of a second slower than electronic times meaning that it is very likely Sampson’s actual time is likely to be more in the low 4.5 range which is not necessarily the kind of speed scouts were hoping to see from a 5-8, 200-pound scatback type

That seems to match his lack of explosive plays. Quick but not fast. Probably a change of pace guy.

JustInTime wrote:

That seems to match his lack of explosive plays. Quick but not fast. Probably a change of pace guy.

Probably so, but damn...almost 1500 yards last year in the SEC with 22 TD's. Good in the receiving game. I thought he was being a little underrated and getting lost in the shuffle, but was hoping to see some better numbers athletically. Still only 20 years old

Career production from 2025 RB prospects pic.twitter.com/kfugPwmgGd

— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) March 14, 2025

StickierBuns wrote:

R.....J......Harvey.

He doesn't suck.

You rarely see this kind of lateral quickness and agility in bigger backs. 

Where do you rank Damien Martinez in this draft class? pic.twitter.com/h3PGC2RGSl

— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) March 14, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
[twitter]https://x.com/fball_insights/status/1900366084995166261?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ[/twitter]

R.....J......Harvey.

Kaleb Johnson:

Iowa doesn't disguise their intent so RBs face stacked boxes often

Johnson faced 7.1 box defenders on avg, #2 most in class

28% of runs vs light box, lowest in class

but when facing a light box?

9.8 YPC, #1 most in class

accounted for 40% of Iowa's offensive… pic.twitter.com/4fIo9t2zwl

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 14, 2025

Hmmmmm

there is so much to love about UCF RB RJ Harvey's game

~ Phone booth creation vs unblocked DL/LB
~ Tempo behind pulling OL to maximize blocking
~ Juice and finish when given the second level pic.twitter.com/PdAAWKYo2U

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) March 14, 2025

Quinshon Judkins:

gained the tough yards

5.3 YPC vs loaded 8+ man boxes

#3 in class

only 14% or runs were stuffed

#5 in class

1.51 10-yd split

#2 in class

97th percentile explosion in jumping drills pic.twitter.com/YAbU7nhcQg

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 14, 2025

StickierBuns wrote:

And can probably be had a little later in the Draft. That make the first guy missed unblocked attribute is huge. Little bowling ball. Makes for a nice complement to Jones. This kid will keep the chains moving, burn some clock and eventually wear down a D. He's not a first round back, but I think he'll be an effective pro. Good vision, keeps his head up. Could handle 35% of the reps to keep AJ fresher and short yardage situational.

End of Day 2 start of Day 3 is probably right, but there’s so many guys this year it could be even later. Aaron Jones/MJD comp for me. Year two the RBBC flips to him being lead dog.

House call Henderson

pic.twitter.com/nZOUzpEbrk https://t.co/MeIqBUZ18f

— Ron💫 aka Da Source (@ViewsofRon) March 14, 2025

Turbo…engaged

2025 RB Class
Top 14 Ranking

1. Ashton Jeanty
2. Omarion Hampton
3. TreVeyon Henderson
4. Kaleb Johnson
5. Quinshon Judkins
6. Cam Skattebo
7. Dylan Sampson
8. Bhayshul Tuten
9. Devin Neal
10. Trevor Etienne
11. Ollie Gordon
12. RJ Harvey
13. DJ Giddens
14. Damien Martinez pic.twitter.com/tQcH4wdIEi

— Elite Drafters (@Elite_Drafters) March 15, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
[twitter]https://x.com/joshnorris/status/1900607171085152544?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ[/twitter]

And can probably be had a little later in the Draft. That make the first guy missed unblocked attribute is huge. Little bowling ball. Makes for a nice complement to Jones. This kid will keep the chains moving, burn some clock and eventually wear down a D. He's not a first round back, but I think he'll be an effective pro. Good vision, keeps his head up. Could handle 35% of the reps to keep AJ fresher and short yardage situational.

2025 RB Class

RJ Harvey and DJ Giddens are two sleeper RBs in this historic class.

Noticed in my latest release I made error and didn't update consensus draft capital for Giddens. It is now updated, he is RB8 overall in this class.

RJ Harvey 3rd best EIG in class is HUGE! pic.twitter.com/J516ri37ju

— Elite Drafters (@Elite_Drafters) March 15, 2025

Highest career rushing EPA per snap from the 2025 RB class = RJ Harvey

Harvey was one of four RBs to avoid a tackle on at least 30% of rush attempts in each of his seasons as a starter:

Ashton Jeanty
Cam Skattebo
Bhayshul Tuten
RJ Harvey

Super fun to watch Harvey tote the rock https://t.co/MvtZ5RQQEN pic.twitter.com/SslQE7Kh5K

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) March 15, 2025

Here's how I'd rank those backs right now (subject to change):

Jeanty
——gap
Henderson
Hampton
——gap
Judkins
——gap
Harvey
Martinez
Johnson
Skattebo
——gap
Tuten
Sampson
Neal
Giddens
Etienne
Gordon

Two backs that everyone will be talking about in a couple years and wonder why they were drafted (or undrafted) so late.

Montrell Johnson
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

MaroonBells wrote:
Here's how I'd rank those backs right now (subject to change):

Jeanty
——gap
Henderson
Hampton
——gap
Judkins
——gap
Harvey
Martinez
Johnson
Skattebo
——gap
Tuten
Sampson
Neal
Giddens
Etienne
Gordon

Two backs that everyone will be talking about in a couple years and wonder why they were drafted (or undrafted) so late.

Montrell Johnson
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

I think KJ could be a touch higher.

I like Henderson then Jeanty on day 1

Hampton, Neal, Sampson, Judkins all worthy of day 2.

Edit to include judkins.

I’ll JustInTime wrote:

I think KJ could be a touch higher.

A lot higher. Second back in this class to Jeanty.