INDIANAPOLIS — After going through the 2018 season loaded at running back, the New England Patriots currently have just three players at the position on their depth chart.
There’s no one behind third-down back James White, Mike Gillislee — who wound up buried behind more talented runners in 2017 — and special-teamer Brandon Bolden. Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead are free agents, and the Patriots didn’t carry a running back on their practice squad in 2017 nor bring on a futures signing after the season.
It seems likely the Patriots will lose Lewis in free agency, and even if they can re-sign Burkhead (which is far from a foregone conclusion), then they could still look to the draft to bring on a young running back. There’s good news: This is a loaded class of running backs, and it’s all anyone could talk about Wednesday on the first day of the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
“It’s a deep class,” Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn, who used to work in the Patriots’ front office, said. “Those guys weighed in this morning, I just came from there. It’s a good-looking crew. It’s guys that have different skill sets. Guys that can carry the ball, guys that can catch.
“You know, one underrated aspect of this running back class as I go through it is pass protection. It’s something that a lot of these guys are skilled at. With the passing games in college, which is really the key to most offenses, they have more experience in pass protection. So, it’s a little bit easier to get the evaluation done. You’re not searching for those snaps quite as much as you might have been five or seven years ago. So, to kind of add that into the evaluation process, it’s a little easier. When you put on three or four games you can tell if a guy can pass protect, which is crucial in this league.”
The Patriots definitely require pass protection out of their running backs.
Penn State’s Saquon Barkley could be a top-5 pick, while WalterFootball.com predicts 14 other running backs could be selected in the first three rounds.
“I think at running back you’re going to see at all levels that you’re going to have some high-end players, and I think you’re still going to see some really good players at the running back position come out of this draft third, fourth, fifth, sixth round,” Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said.
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman also talked up the class at the event.
After Barkley, WalterFootball.com ranks Georgia’s Sony Michel, Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson, LSU’s Derrius Guice, USC’s Ronald Jones II, Georgia’s Nick Chubb, N.C. State’s Jaylen Samuels, Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage, Iowa’s Akrum Wadley, Oregon’s Royce Freeman, Notre Dame’s Josh Adams, Grambling State’s Martez Carter, N.C. State’s Nyheim Hines and San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny as first-, second- or third-round prospects.
The Patriots have the 31st overall pick, either 41st or 43rd overall (depending on a coin toss that will take place Friday at the combine), 63rd overall, 95th overall, 136th overall and 205th overall. They have no selections in the fifth and seventh rounds.
The running backs will meet with the media Thursday and work out for scouts Friday at the combine. The Patriots typically look for backs who impress in the 3-cone drill and short shuttle, both of which measure quickness.
