2020 NFL Draft: Eno Benjamin could be perfect mid-round RB target

While he will likely fly under-the-radar, NFL teams should consider making Eno Benjamin a mid-round RB priority in the middle rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Earlier this week, Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin declared his intention to enter the 2020 NFL draft class. Benjamin enters a class of running backs that is expected to be talented at the top and deep throughout. Simply put, if you need a running back, the 2020 NFL Draft will have you covered.

Guys like Jonathan Taylor, D’Andre Swift and Travis Etienne have long been considered the top backs in this class. Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins has been incredible this season and should also be in the RB1 discussion whenever he ends up declaring. That being said, after that top four, Benjamin is a guy who has my attention as a great mid-round value selection.

Benjamin has taken a bit of a step back production-wise this season (1,642 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2018 compared to 1,083 and 10 touchdowns in 2019), but his overall skill-set gives us plenty to be excited about.

Benjamin shows good ball carrier vision and enough quickness to get to the necessary hole when it opens up. His burst through the line of scrimmage is impressive and he has enough speed to break off big runs when he gets enough room.

More from NFL Draft

• NFL Draft: Ranking the top signal callers of the 2024 NFL QB Class
• Packers’ Lukas Van Ness will make a Lambeau leap into the NFL in 2023
• 2024 NFL Draft: Hunter Haas’ Top 50 Big Board
• NFL preseason Week 3: Notre Dame’s Mayer, Foskey with something to prove
• NFL Draft Notebook: Bo Nix is the third-best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft

In one-on-one situations, Benjamin can incredibly difficult to bring down in space. He shows some nice short-area quickness that makes him naturally elusive and he has some nice power at the point of attack as well. In particular, Benjamin shows impressive contact balance that should translate extremely well to the next level.

The Arizona State product is also an impressive pass-catcher out of the backfield. Throughout his three-year college career, Benjamin caught 82 passes for 625 yards and four touchdowns. He showed an ability to run a variety of routes at Arizona State and did a great job of catching the ball away from his body and turning upfield quickly to create extra yardage after the catch.

Benjamin’s well-rounded skill-set as a runner and a receiver makes him an extremely appealing target for the modern NFL. His less than stellar final college season will likely keep Benjamin out of the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, but I like him as a mid-round target for teams who need a running back.

Benjamin is a true three-down back whose combination of quickness and power will play at the next level. If a team wants to take a running back in the 2020 NFL Draft but doesn’t want to use a top pick on a top guy, Benjamin stands out as an obvious target in the late third/early fourth-round range.