2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: RB

RJ Harvey

Consensus is sleeping on him hard with a 5th round projection.

His Elite Insight Grade (EIG) is third among the class to only Jeanty and Hampton.

Prior EIG studs with suppressed DC Kyren Williams and Bucky Irving. pic.twitter.com/xzeoBIjxYc

— Elite Drafters (@Elite_Drafters) March 15, 2025

JustInTime wrote:

I think KJ could be a touch higher.

Not for me. If you find a clip of him making any kind of quick COD, I'd love to see it. I'm willing to change my mind. Again, I don't think he's a bust. I think he can carve out a nice career as a one-cut, physical runner behind a good offensive line. But he's not going to see Iowa holes in the NFL. I think behind a better back he can be a good RB2 in the NFL. If he can find some moves and run with a little more anger, he can be David Montgomery.

I doubt Minnesota even drafts a RB in any round now with the Mason signing. They got exactly the type they wanted for RB2. UDFA very possible. Keep in mind say a RB like RJ Harvey is already 24 years old, Mason is 25....players keep getting older for the Draft because of NIL money and the ability to move around CFB. Its almost like drafting a known commodity, I like how KAM maneuvers the FA space. This is where analytics take more of a value precedence instead of the Draft.

StickierBuns wrote:
I doubt Minnesota even drafts a RB in any round now with the Mason signing. They got exactly the type they wanted for RB2. UDFA very possible. Keep in mind say a RB like RJ Harvey is already 24 years old, Mason is 25....players keep getting older for the Draft because of NIL money and the ability to move around CFB. Its almost like drafting a known commodity, I like how KAM maneuvers the FA space. This is where analytics take more of a value precedence instead of the Draft.

Disagree. I think Jones and Mason will form a nice one-two punch for us, but I think Mason is mostly an RB2 (RB1 in a pinch), and Jones is injury prone and 30 years old. Both are on what looks like one-year deals. It's not as urgent as it was yesterday, and we might be able to put it off a year, but I think RB is still very much a candidate for 1st pick...and definitely still in the running in the middle rounds.

MaroonBells wrote:

Disagree. I think Jones and Mason will form a nice one-two punch for us, but I think Mason is mostly an RB2 (RB1 in a pinch), and Jones is injury prone and 30 years old. Both are on what looks like one-year deals. It's not as urgent as it was yesterday, and we might be able to put it off a year, but I think RB is still very much a candidate for 1st pick...and definitely still in the running in the middle rounds.

I luv the Mason pick-up as a change of pace guy...I mentioned elsewhere, he reminds me so much of Montgomery. And he has the perfect role on the Lions as RB2 to Gibbs. 

What do they do if one of Barron/Hampton/Henderson/Judkins or D.Harmon is there????  Probably Barron based on need. 

1st round is going to be interesting and high probability for a trade-down.

purplefaithful wrote:

I luv the Mason pick-up as a change of pace guy...I mentioned elsewhere, he reminds me so much of Montgomery. And he has the perfect role on the Lions as RB2 to Gibbs. 

What do they do if one of Barron/Hampton/Henderson/Judkins or D.Harmon is there????  Probably Barron based on need. 

1st round is going to be interesting and high probability for a trade-down.

Yeah, at this point I'd be surprised if we didn't trade down. Maybe even twice. Not going to be easy tho in a class with so little difference between pick 20 and pick 50. I doubt we'll get what we'd typically get in return. We need a blue chip QB, WR or Edge to fall to 24 and a one-player-away team to want him bad enough.

Damien Martinez:

a TOUGH interior runner

4.4 yards after contact

#2 in class behind only Ashton Jeanty

only 8.2% of runs were stuffed

#1 in class

6.7 YPC in runs between tackles

#2 in class

37% of runs gained a 1st down

#3 in class pic.twitter.com/LP7zTMDGt9

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 16, 2025

Waterboy wrote:

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

You think Kaleb Johnson is RB2? I'd suggest doing some research on that theory.

purplefaithful wrote:

I luv the Mason pick-up as a change of pace guy...I mentioned elsewhere, he reminds me so much of Montgomery. And he has the perfect role on the Lions as RB2 to Gibbs. 

What do they do if one of Barron/Hampton/Henderson/Judkins or D.Harmon is there????  Probably Barron based on need. 

1st round is going to be interesting and high probability for a trade-down.

If Barron is there at 24, I am guessing they won't explore a trade down. Barron will be the guy. I think maybe Grant will be in that discussion as well.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/sharpfootball/status/1901314737901838466?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Not that you care, but I think Martinez could very well be the RB that teams regret not taking. Underrated.

Talk about NIL money all you want… the competitive fire for both OSU RB’s Henderson and Judkins is special. Absolute DAWGS! #nfl #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2025 pic.twitter.com/ZekKsOUuTC

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 16, 2025

Since 2023, Ashton Jeanty *after contact* ranks 5th in rushing yards🤯 pic.twitter.com/c3OcgITeSV

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 16, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/pff_college/status/1901281266085024133?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Don't make me start playing around with trade-up scenarios.

MaroonBells wrote:

Don't make me start playing around with trade-up scenarios.

If he gets past Vegas you need to get to 9 because I’m pretty sure he doesn’t get past Chicago and even more confident he doesn’t get past Jerruah.

don't see RBs engage in a blitz pick up for this long very often. devin neal one of the better pass pro backs i've watched so far. pic.twitter.com/LwGccXvcuL

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) March 17, 2025

Comparing the first 10 yards vs. the entire 40 yard dash. Quinshon Judkins' initial burst is very impressive on tape, even if he tails off down the field. pic.twitter.com/iFChxChTSw

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) March 17, 2025

Looks like Kaleb has that rare combination of not being quick or fast.

Kaleb Johnson analytics are in the same ballpark as Kerryon Johnson and CEH.

Yikes…

— Elite Drafters (@Elite_Drafters) March 17, 2025

Kaleb has slid out of my top 5…might go further down.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/elite_drafters/status/1901485514860982473?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Kaleb has slid out of my top 5…might go further down.

I'll be there waiting when you get there.  :D Good size, good numbers, but when you actually watch him he just doesn't have the movement skills the other top backs have. I even went back and looked at the college clips of some other big guys like Henry and Najee Harris to see if he could maybe be that kind of back. Nope, they could actually move laterally. Makes me wonder if his Twitter stans like Thor Nystrom have actually watched him run or they're just looking at numbers.

5'11/221 Quinshon Judkins as a sophomore

phone booth pic.twitter.com/Im9pKQ0RIZ

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) March 17, 2025

Dayum

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/joshnorris/status/1901697953062060241?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Dayum

Nasty. Judkins has a lot of likable qualities. Size, speed and moves. There aren't many backs who have all three IMO.

MaroonBells wrote:

Nasty. Judkins has a lot of likable qualities. Size, speed and moves. There aren't many backs who have all three IMO.

I might have to move him to RB3. But Henderson would be a better fit. 

The more I think about it, the more RB becomes a priority. Jones is essentially on a 1 year deal, Mason a 2 years. Tap into this class whenever the value dictates. Zero need to force it.

JustInTime wrote:

I might have to move him to RB3. But Henderson would be a better fit. 

The more I think about it, the more RB becomes a priority. Jones is essentially on a 1 year deal, Mason a 2 years. Tap into this class whenever the value dictates. Zero need to force it.

Its our best backfield since Dalvin could cook. But neither is a true field tilter....

I say the D backfield is #1 priority, but I would dance a jig with any of the 3 rb's after Jeanty. 

Agree, Henderson is the best fit. 

Judkins brings some real bad asz attitude to the field though. 

Id love to pair that with this re-built OL and flyers at WR

Ridiculous stat incoming...

Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson had 36 carries with 2 or fewer yards to go. He had 33 first downs!!! 92%. That is unbelievable.

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) March 17, 2025