2017 NFL Draft Pro Comparisons: The Running Backs
By Erik Lambert
The 2017 NFL draft has the chance to become the Year of the Running Back. That is how talented a group is waiting to come out next April.
The question on the minds of fans is just how high a ceiling could it be? Often a great way to help illustrate that is by comparing the top names on the board with pro counterparts. This includes past and present NFL players. The trick involves finding similarities in terms of body type as well as skill set. Under these conditions, it has produced a few surprises.
Here are the top names and who they reflect at present.
Leonard Fournette (LSU)
Universally believed to be the most talented running back to come out of college in years. Leonard Fournette looks like the total package from top to bottom. He’s a big back who runs with power but has the rare additions of quick feet and breakaway speed. The type of back that makes a defense call for mercy by the 4th quarter. Mostly known for being a downhill runner, that doesn’t mean he can’t catch the ball either. Outside of some minor health concerns, there are few downsides to this freakish talent.
Comparison: Corey Dillon
A lot of current fans don’t even remember Corey Dillon. That’s not surprising. Most of his career was spent playing for some really bad Cincinnati Bengals teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It wasn’t until he got to New England and won a Super Bowl that people finally realized he was a great back. His size, power and style fit Fournette well. Dillon was a four-time Pro Bowler who finished with over 11,000 yards rushing and 82 touchdowns.