Have We Seen the Last of the 1st-Round Running Backs in the NFL Draft?

April 11, 2014   ·   Greg Gabriel   ·   Jump to comments

In the history of the NFL draft, running backs were almost always looked to as premium draft choices. Clubs felt they had to have a top back in order for their offense to prosper.
Just six years ago, five running backs were drafted in the first round. Last year, that number decreased to zero.
In 2008, Darren McFadden was the fourth overall pick by the Oakland Raiders. Jonathan Stewart was selected by the Carolina Panthers at 13, followed by Felix Jones at 22 to the Dallas Cowboys. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Rashard Mendenhall at 23, and the Tennessee Titans selected Chris Johnson one pick later.
Of those five running backs, only two have had what I would call a good career. Mendenhall struggled as a rookie, gaining only 58 yards. He came back to total 3,309 yards the next three seasons, but later dealt with injury problems and just recently announced his retirement.
The most productive player in that group has been Johnson, who has averaged 1,328 yards ...

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