Sometimes, the best NFL draft opinions don’t come from self-proclaimed draft experts or former general managers. Instead, players who enjoyed success at the highest level often have a better sense for which college prospect has the necessary skill set to make the jump from the collegiate ranks to the NFL.
NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew enjoyed a remarkably productive career with the Jacksonville Jaguars including three-straight seasons over 1,300 rushing yards and a league-best 1,606 yards in 2011. Needless to say, when MJD offers an opinion on the incoming class of running backs, it’s worth paying attention.
MJD published his ranking of the 2020 running back class and separated them into three tiers: Day 1 starters, system players and need time to develop.
D’Andre Swift (Georgia) is RB1
It seems like a foregone conclusion at this point in the 2020 draft process that Swift will be the first running back drafted. MJD shares in that opinion and ranks him atop his list of 30 backs.
“The best back in this draft class,” wrote MJD, “Swift has great acceleration, short-area quickness and can make multiple cuts without slowing down.”
Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) is a fringe Day 1 starter
The biggest shock from MJD’s first tier is how low he has Taylor ranked. The uber-productive Wisconsin standout is coming off of back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons and a fantastic showing at the NFL Combine but neither was convincing enough to push him into MJD’s top 5. Taylor ranks sixth in large part because of how many carries he has on his resume.
“Unfortunately, Taylor’s size and downhill running style will make him more susceptible to hits at the next level,” MJD wrote. “He was durable in college, so hopefully that continues because he’s talented enough to be a starter immediately.”
Zack Moss (Utah) is a top-five back?
This may have been the biggest shock from MJD’s rankings; he has Moss as a top-five running back and a player who he considers a Day 1 starter. And while there are certainly appealing traits embedded in Moss’ game, his lack of burst and wiggle suggest his ceiling is a bit lower than some of his 2020 classmates.
Just don’t tell that to Jones-Drew.
“Moss is very quick for a guy who weighs 223 pounds, and his Marshawn Lynch-like style makes him a tough tackle,” wrote MJD. “He was quite productive at Utah, averaging at least 5.5 yards per carry in each of the past three seasons by consistently falling forward at the point of contact and making positive gains. He’ll be able to not only contribute but dominate in any system at the next level. The one concern is his injury history.”
