Inside the Patriots Draft Room: Finding the Final Pieces to Reclaim the Lombardi Trophy
Running Backs
The Patriots may have lost Dion Lewis this offseason, but the team was able to re-sign Rex Burkhead and sign Burkhead’s former Cincinnati Bengals teammate, Jeremy Hill. With James White and Brandon Bolden also returning, the running back position is far from being New England’s biggest need.
Highly-valued skills:
height, weight, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone, short shuttle (107 graded)
1. Saquon Barkley (Penn State) 77.7%
2. Chris Warren III (Texas) 33.3%
Fell below the minimum threshold in one category, but still finished with a positive score:
1. Nick Chubb (Georgia) 38.8%
2. Bo Scarbrough (Alabama) 33.3%
2. Justin Jackson (Northwestern) 33.3%
4. Royce Freeman (Oregon) 27.7%
Next: Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
4. Ryan Green (Florida State) 27.7%
4. Ryan Nall (Oregon State) 27.7%
7. Kalen Ballage (Arizona State) 22.2%
8. Josh Adams (Notre Dame) 16.6%
8. Jaylen Samuels (North Carolina State) 16.6%
Next: Jaylen Samuels, FB, NC State: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
10. Boston Scott (Louisiana Tech) 11.1%
10. Gus Edwards (Rutgers) 11.1%
10. Ralph Webb (Vanderbilt) 11.1%
13. Chase Edmonds (Fordham) 5.5%
13. Rashaad Penny (San Diego State) 5.5%
There aren’t many perfect fits at the position in this year’s draft as only two rushers finished with a positive score and met the minimum threshold in all seven categories the Patriots favor over the majority of the league. Many of those who still scored positively, fell short of the Patriots preference for at least 24 reps on the bench press.
It would take numerous first-round picks in addition to Rob Gronkowski to even come close to being able to draft Saquon Barkley, but Chris Warren III could be a late-round target. As the H-back for Texas last season, he showed he is more than capable of catching the ball in addition to being a bruiser in the backfield. If the Patriots want to provide a little competition for James Develin, Warren would be a solid pick on day three of the draft.