2027 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings: Hollywood Smothers and Cameron Dickey headline value tier

A running back has been selected in the top 10 picks of each of the last two NFL Drafts, but that streak is likely to come to an end in 2027. While this year's class features plenty of intriguing talent, no back currently carries a first-round grade entering the season.

That does not mean the position lacks depth. Six running backs currently earn Day 2 grades on my board, led by a pair of SEC stars in Florida's Jadan Baugh and Missouri's Ahmad Hardy. The class also features several intriguing value picks, including two prospects from the Lone Star State in Texas' Hollywood Smothers and Texas Tech's Cameron Dickey.

Top Player: Jaden Baugh, Florida

If not for the uncertainty surrounding Ahmad Hardy's season following a gunshot injury, he would hold the top spot on my board. With that situation still unresolved, Florida's Jadan Baugh earns that distinction. Baugh was frequently forced to run against stacked boxes due to the Gators' inconsistent passing attack, yet still rushed for 1,170 yards, including a 266-yard performance against Florida State that ranks as the second-highest single-game rushing total in program history.

As an NFL prospect, Baugh offers an intriguing combination of size and athleticism. Despite weighing 231 pounds, he displays impressive footwork, showing the ability to make sharp cuts and evade defenders in tight spaces. He also possesses good burst for a back of his size, which helped him record 35 runs of 10 or more yards last season. Adding to his appeal is his reliability in the passing game, as he caught 33 passes without recording a single drop. His blend of production, explosiveness, receiving ability, and physical tools makes him the top running back in the 2027 NFL Draft entering the season.

Guy I would stand on the table for: Cameron Dickey, Texas Tech

A Day 3 prospect I am very high on is Texas Tech's Cameron Dickey, who was a big reason why the Red Raiders were able to make the College Football Playoff last season. The Second-Team All-Big 12 selection rushed for 1,124 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 25 catches for 224 yards, becoming just the third player in program history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season and record 200 or more receiving yards. As a prospect, Dickey is a powerful runner who does an excellent job of keeping his feet moving through contact while also showing the patience to allow plays to develop before hitting running lanes. 

Overrated: Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami

Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. is coming off an impressive College Football Playoff run in which he set a CFP record with 507 rushing yards during a single postseason, but that stretch may be causing some evaluators to place him higher than he belongs. While some outlets have given him first-round grades, I currently view him as more of a Day 3 prospect. Fletcher is often praised for his power, but his upright running style and average contact balance can make him easier to bring down than expected, particularly when defenders attack low. He also offers only average value as a receiver, recording four drops last season. Despite his postseason success, his regular-season production was less dominant, as he was held under 75 rushing yards in five games. 

Sleeper: Hollywood Smothers, Texas

One under-the-radar prospect entering the season is Texas running back Hollywood Smothers, who transferred from NC State this offseason. His explosiveness and lateral quickness consistently jump off the film, helping him average more than six yards per carry through his first three collegiate seasons. Smothers also brings value as a pass catcher, showing dependable hands with just one career drop. His combination of rushing efficiency, receiving ability, and versatility could make him an intriguing NFL prospect. A potential fit would be the Chicago Bears, where his skill set aligns well with the offensive principles of Ben Johnson and could position him as a long-term successor to D'Andre Swift if Swift departs in free agency after the season. 

Biggest risk: Raleek Brown, Texas

One of the most explosive running backs eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft is Texas transfer Raleek Brown, who is coming off a breakout season at Arizona State where he rushed for a career-high 1,141 yards. That total was 914 yards more than he had produced in any previous season, showcasing the playmaking ability that once made him one of the nation's most highly touted recruits. The biggest concern surrounding Brown is durability. He appeared in just four combined games during the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injuries, and an ankle injury in 2022 also limited his effectiveness. When healthy, Brown possesses the speed and big-play ability to emerge as a mid-round selection or better, but another injury-plagued season would likely raise significant medical concerns for NFL teams evaluating his draft stock. 

Player who could have a breakout year: Marcellous Hawkins, Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech running back Marcellous Hawkins is a strong breakout candidate entering the season after finishing last year with significant momentum. His season started slowly, as he reached 15 carries in just one of his first seven games, but his role expanded down the stretch and the production followed. Hawkins rushed for more than 100 yards in two of his final four games and averaged over eight yards per carry in four of his last five contests. With new head coach James Franklin taking over after helping develop multiple NFL-caliber running backs at Penn State, Hawkins is in an ideal position to take the next step. He combines power, vision, and patience as a runner, averaging an impressive 4.72 yards after contact per carry last season. If he can build on the success he found late in the year, Hawkins has a legitimate chance to emerge as one of the biggest risers in the 2027 NFL Draft class.

Time for a bounce-back season: Makhi Hughes, Houston

Perhaps no running back in the 2027 NFL Draft who stayed healthy last season had a more disappointing year than Makhi Hughes. Hughes entered 2025 as a highly regarded prospect after earning First-Team All-AAC honors in 2024 while rushing for 1,401 yards at Tulane before transferring to Oregon. His season with the Ducks, however, was lackluster, as he received just 17 carries before electing to take a redshirt after the fourth game of the season. Now at Houston, look for Hughes to rediscover the form that made him one of the nation's top backs. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Tulane, he totaled 1,982 yards after contact, the third-most in the country over that span behind 2025 first-round picks Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton.

Overall running back rankings

1. Jadan Baugh, Florida (second round)

2. Ahmad Hardy, Missouri (second round)

3. Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss (second round)

4. Isaac Brown, Louisville (third round)

5. Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech (third round)

6. Hollywood Smothers, Texas (third round)

7. Jordan Marshall, Michigan (fourth round)

8. Nate Frazier, Georgia (fourth round)

9. Raleek Brown, Texas (fourth round)

10. Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami (fifth round)

11. LJ Martin, BYU (fifth round)

12. Cameron Dickey, Texas Tech (fifth round)

13. Marcellous Hawkins, Virginia Tech (sixth round)

14. Dylan Edwards, Kansas (sixth round)

15. Kamari Moulton, Iowa (sixth round)

16. Cam Edwards, Michigan State (sixth round)

17. Cam Cook, West Virginia (sixth round)

18. Lendon Phillips Jr, Iowa (sixth round)

19. Antwan Raymond, Rutgers (sixth round)

20. Jeremiah Cobb, Auburn (seventh round)

21. Makhi Hughes, Houston (seventh round)

22. Waymond Jordan, USC (seventh round)

23. Bryson Washington, Auburn (seventh round)

24. Dylan Riley, Boise State (seventh round)

25. Eli Gillman, Montana (seventh round)

26. J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech (seventh round)

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