The running back prospects in the 2023 NFL draft are reviewed below from the Ravens’ perspective. The following positions have been reviewed in other posts:
Offense:
Wide Receivers, which can be found here, and was updated again today.
Interior Offensive Lineman, which can be found here.
Defense:
Edge Linebacker, which is located here.
Cornerbacks, which can be found here.
Defensive Linemen, which is found here.
The Ravens Current Running Back Situation and Needs
The Ravens retain their three-headed running back room from last year. It’s a good group but all three of J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill have serious injury history in their not-so-distance pasts. Dobbins is a free-agent after this year and at age 26 for the 2024 season, it’s unclear what his Ravens future might look like. Gus Edwards is 28 and 2024 is a voidable year on his contract. Justice Hill has never been given a full chance to shine as a running back, even though he was very explosive last year and has juice to offer. With this combination of factors, I fully expect the Ravens to add to the running back room through the draft or with undrafted free agents after the draft.
I’m not spending any time on Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, each of whom is an elite talent and will be drafted early. I also can’t quite imagine the Ravens pursuing Zach Charbonnet or Devon Archane who are both likely to be gone by early in the third round. Could the Ravens select a running back in the third round? I wouldn’t bet on it, but I begin this positional review by looking at backs who I think could be available beginning at that point. Because you never know how the Ravens draft board – or draft slotting – will look on day 2.
The Running Back Prospects
This is a good group of backs, with plenty enough to pick from.
Tyjae Spears
Spears is 5’9 and 201 lbs. from Tulane. I loved Spears’ game at Tulane. How could you not? But what translates into the NFL will be interesting. Spears ran an “average” and somewhat disappointing 4.52 forty on his pro day. Yet, on tape we see a player who has an extra gear to explode past linebackers, lulling them when he’s in first gear. But that doesn’t mean he can take it to the house on a regular basis in the NFL.
The burst we see on tape was backed by some outstanding vertical jump and broad jump testing. That burst and agility are what separate Spears on the field. He can stop and start with the best of them, has excellent vision, and will instinctively explode when he sees an opening. Spears brings good balance and can make defenders miss. He’s outstanding cutting to the outside. Spears was a dominant player at the Senior Bowl practices.
What Spears is not is a pile driver; he lacks the lower body power to bully through gaps. And although he has an outstanding ability to change direction, he can be hesitant when there’s no obvious escape route. Now under Greg Roman’s scheme the Ravens loved the one-cut-and-go running style, and Spears is not necessarily that. And he’s not likely to be a lead-back taking 20 carries plus per game. With Dobbins healthier towards the end of last season, he became a lead back. If you’re looking to draft Spears as Dobbins’ substitute in 2024, I’m not sure he’s your guy. Spears tore his ACL in 2021 (though he was unimpaired through a great 2022 season). But he’s a good football player who has plenty to offer. Round 3.
Zach Evans
Evans is 5’11 and 202 lbs. from Mississippi. He ran a 4.50 forty on his pro day. Evans comes with some baggage. He’s had numerous injuries in his career (turf toe, hip, and concussion.; missed the Combine with a hamstring injury). And, he had character issues, albeit in high school, so good interviews and reference checks are essential on Evans. With that said, Evans is a very effective one-cutter style explosive running back with enough burst to get to the corner and the vision to cut through the defense. Evans runs all out all the time, and arguably lacks the patience that could benefit him even more in reading holes in the NFL and getting to cutback lanes.
Evans runs a bit high. He is not a bulldozer on the inside, and has shown inconsistent hands. He is more effective on the outside. In my view, Evans lacks the complete set of skills the Ravens prefer; if you can’t run dominantly to the inside, you’re not the right back for the way the Ravens have played the last five years. Now if Todd Monken shifts to more of an outside zone running scheme there could be a place for Evans. Round 4-5.
Tank Bigsby
Bigsby is 6’ and 210 lbs. from Auburn. He ran a very pedestrian 4.56 forty and his athletic testing was below average. Bigsby’s strength is his burst and outstanding agility. He’s not Barry Sanders, but his signature skill is his plant and cut-back. Bigsby runs powerfully with good lower body power, and can power through body contact. This combination of skills – the ability to run through or cut around tacklers – is what gives Bigsby allure in the NFL. The challenge for him is his vision and occasional lack of patience as he sometimes just doesn’t let his blockers finish. If he doesn’t see it, well, that’s a problem. Now, a good offensive line can certainly help this problem. Bigsby is also runs a bit too upright, and has a fumbling history.
Bigsby runs with determination and keeps his feet moving. He has been an adequate receiver who can improve. He can cut it to the outside or power it to the inside at full speed, but he’s generally not going to take it all the way to the house. Yet, Bigsby knows how to vary his speed. Round 3.
Kendre Miller
Miller is 5’11 and 215 lbs. from TCU. Miller did not do any athletic testing due to his right knee. Notwithstanding his bulk, Miller is not really a power back. He runs a bit too upright and though he can be tough to bring down, he’s not driving the pile. He has been a fumbler. Miller is young (barely 21 by season start), he’s shown patience finding holes and good agility to get through them. Miller is a smooth cutter with an easy ability to sink his hips. He’s tough and competitive with some very good natural burst.
Miller has little experience as a receiver. Nor is there much to tell us about his blitz pick-up capability. To this point, it’s hard to see him on the field on third down. Miller will likely go in the third or fourth round, but I don’t see enough to warrant spending the Ravens rather limited draft capital on him. Round 3-4.
Israel Abanikanda
Abanikanda is 5’10 and 216 lbs. from Pittsburgh. Abanikanda has very good straight line speed, having run a 4.44 forty on his pro day and won’t be 21 until into the season. He cuts quickly and is excellent in space. However, this is not a runner who plays great through contact, as evidenced by his poor production after contact. He’s not going to power you that yard at the goal line. He clearly plays lighter than his weight at this point. Abanikanda is not a guy I want to pick up a blitz on third down. As a receiver we really don’t know what he can do as he was given little chance out of the backfield.
I don’t see Abanikanda as a bell-cow running back, at least not yet, until he generates more power from his lower half. He just hasn’t been tough enough to suggest that. But he can put it into high gear easily as that change of pace back who can take it to the house. I think he’s well suited for inside zone scheme running attacks, as he’s very much a one-cut and go runner. The Ravens visited with him. Round 4-5.
Roschon Johnson
Johnson is 6’ and 219 lbs. from Texas, where he shared carries with Bijan Robinson. Johnson is slow, having run only a 4.58 forty, and he will be caught from behind in the open field. What he brings are very large arms and power. Johnson is built to run on the inside in the NFL. Power is his game. This guy will just keep grinding and is a horse to bring down. But he also cuts well laterally, and he has quicker feet than one might expect. However, I wouldn’t call Johnson fluid; that’s a bridge a bit too far. And he can sometimes be too hesitant.
There’s more to his game. For one, he doesn’t fumble. And he will block, block, block. He plays special teams to a high level, and can catch the football. Johnson is known as a leader who will work his tail off. He broke his hand during the Senior Bowl practices. Now I have a predilection against running backs who lack at least average speed, so that puts Johnson back several notches for me. If I’m looking for a fourth back for the Ravens, I’m looking for someone who has more electric potential. I don’t see Johnson as that man, though he does bring some good qualities to the table. Round 3-4.
Eric Gray
Gray is 5’10 and 207 lbs. from Oklahoma. Even more so than Roschon Johnson, Gray is exceedingly slow, having run a 4.62 on his pro day. He is just not going to scare you down the field. I think he could have challenges getting around the edge and beating NFL linebackers. I like his low pad running style and he has the type of loose hips that allow him to cut on a dime and leave tacklers guessing. He can find his cutback lanes, and has very good vision. Gray can catch it out of the backfield, and he’ll pick up the blitz for you on third down. He’s tough.
Gray is not going to power you up the middle. He won’t create his own space at the goal line. On balance, Gray’s package of skills is just not the combination that I’m looking for. I don’t think being a lead back is in his NFL future. Round 4-5.
DeWayne McBride
McBride is 5’10 and 209 lbs. from UAB. He didn’t test athletically due to a hamstring issue. McBride both makes you miss and has the type of contact balance and power that allows him to gain tons of extra yardage. He brings excellent lateral agility, excellent vision, and the ability to change gears and combine moves. What he doesn’t have is that home run speed that would place him in an elite skills category as a running back. McBride is completely unproven as a pass receiver as he was virtually never targeted.
Notwithstanding his phenomenal season last year, McBride does not have the type of special burst you look for. But he can convert from speed to power. Unfortunately, McBride has been a fumbler, which is obviously a non-starter for a John Harbaugh team. He can run in both a power scheme and a zone scheme, in my view. McBride’s ceiling in the NFL is limited if he can’t contribute on third down which, as of now, there’s no evidence to suggest that he can. But he’s an interesting runner with the ball in his hands. The Ravens met with McBride. Round 5-6.
Chase Brown
Brown is 5’10 and 209 lbs. from Illinois. Now here’s a great athlete. He ran an excellent 4.43 forty, has very large hands, was in the 85th percentile in the bench press, and over 90th percentile in both the vertical jump and the broad jump. Unfortunately for Brown, he performed poorly in the Senior Bowl practices. He fumbled too much (just like he did in college last year), and put together some really terrible receiving tape. For a guy who caught 27 balls last year, he just couldn’t catch one in the practices. And he had trouble in pass protect too (also like he did in college).
Brown needs a lane to run through. He’s explosive if he can find it and will take it to the house with the best of them. But he won’t create his own, lacking the necessary power. Brown is also not the guy to break tackles. He changes direction smoothly and will make you miss. He’s easier to bring down than you’d like.
I see Brown as a limited player. What he does well – speed and cutting – he does real well. But what he does poorly – fumbling, unable to pass protect, lack of power – he is really a big liability at. I’m not seduced by his home run speed; he just has too much to clean up in the NFL. Now, if he went much later than he probably will – say, the 6th round – I might be tempted to take a flyer. But actually, with the Ravens having so few picks, I probably wouldn’t. Round 5-6.
Deuce Vaughn
Vaughn is the ultimate mini-might at an unbelievable 5’5 and 179 lbs. Now you’d think a player of this size would be fast, but Vaughn ran a terrible 4.56 forty on his pro day, so the straight line speed is lacking. Unsurprisingly, Vaughn simply can’t block in pass protection; would you really want him trying to pick up NFL blitzers? I think not. And also unsurprisingly, Vaughn doesn’t offer any power, displaying little ability to make yards after contact. He’s certainly not going to pound out yards on the inside. But he does have excellent balance.
What does he bring? Incredible elusiveness. In the open field, you just can’t lay your paws on this guy. And that lack of straight line speed is arguably less important in his case because he’s always cutting and creating impossible tackle angles. Vaughn doesn’t fumble much either. He’s proven to be very durable.
Plus, he can catch the ball with ease, hauling in over 120 receptions in his career. Can you picture linebackers trying to stay with a guy like this in the open field? And this is where you’ll find his utility in the NFL. Get him in space, and watch people try to find him. The problem for the Ravens – especially if Lamar Jackson is the quarterback – is that Vaughn presents such a small target out of the backfield. Your quarterback must be accurate, and we know that’s not Lamar’s strength. Vaughn is the specialty, rotational back. But that’s a limited role, and given the Ravens need now and going forward, I just don’t see him in Baltimore. Round 4-5.
Sean Tucker
Tucker is 5’9 and 207 lbs. from Syracuse and grew up in Owings Mills. He did not do any athletic testing due to a medical issue, which has to be resolved. Tucker is a classic north-south runner who brings initial burst and excellent speed on tape. He’s certainly a one-cut and go back. He’s built Ford-tough and can run through tackles. But he doesn’t generate natural power the way you think he would. He has Robert Duran hands in the passing game – hands of stone (a bunch of drops); yet Syracuse used him in the passing game, and he was productive when he caught the ball though you can’t grade him high as a route runner.
What he won’t do is juke you out of your shoes. Making people miss is just not part of Tucker’s game. He can run too high, compromising his balance, and limiting his yards after contact. Tucker sets up his blocks well and obviously can go between the tackles. On balance, Tucker is somewhat limited for the next level. Round 5-6.
Kenny McIntosh
McIntosh is 6’ and 204 lbs. from Georgia. He lacks any kind of top end speed, his fastest forty measuring in at 4.62. McIntosh was simply the best receiving running back in college last year. He caught 42 balls and never dropped a catchable pass in his career. But his future as a running back in the NFL, in my view, is suspect. His vision isn’t great and he’s not going to make you miss too often. McIntosh is a tough runner though not a bulldozer. He has reasonably good burst. He’s had a series of injuries causing him to miss several games, though none of the injuries was serious.
I don’t see McIntosh as a between the tackles back. His comparative lack of vision is a put off for me. He’s made to be a third down threat out of the backfield, with an occasional opportunity as a back on first and second down. He is not a lead back candidate. For the 2023 Ravens, could he be that third down back? I don’t think he offers enough to suggest that. And, to my knowledge, he has no special teams experience. I see him as being overrated by the aggregate of observers. Round 5.
Deneric Prince
Prince is 6’ and 216 lbs. from Tulsa. He is really fast, running a 4.41 forty at the Combine. He tested very well athletically. Prince combines speed with power and is able to break tackles. He was a dominant player at the Shrine Bowl practices, breaking some big runs and both running routes and catching the ball better than expected. The latter satisfied some concerns as Prince was never given much of a chance in the passing game.
Prince is explosive and brings very good footwork. Where Prince really needs to improve is with his understanding of how to set up his blocks; he will just long-stride forward at full speed. He’s tough and will break tackles and can be a handful in the open field. Further, he will pile drive. Prince was underutilized and should be fresh. He could stand to keep his pad level lower. I see Prince as a very interesting lower round possibility. He can take it to the house. Now he must develop an ability to handle blitzes, and he hasn’t played much on special teams. But he has talent. Round 6-7.
Keaton Mitchell
Mitchell is 5’8 and 179 lbs. from East Carolina. Mitchell is a blazer, having run a 4.37 forty, and he brings explosion, with outstanding vertical jump and broad jump testing. He is that electric juice ball that fans love to watch. He shakes those hips, and the tackler is grabbing his own ankles. This is a guy who you just can’t surround. He has absolute elite speed, agility, and burst. Mitchell has the ability to squeeze through small holes and then accelerate. He does not lose speed as he’s making his numerous cuts. If you’re looking for a guy who could hit a home run on any play, Mitchell brings that.
But on the other hand, there’s simply no physicality to his game, and that makes it really hard to see him in the backfield on more than a handful of attempts per game. If ever there was a modern day scat back, Mitchell’s your man. If he gets to the outside, he’ll look to hit a home run every time. Literally every big play I saw from Mitchell involved him cutting it to the outside.
I can see him as a third down back where the ball is going to him, but he’ll never be able to handle NFL blitz packages. Creative offensive minds can find other opportunities for Mitchell, too. Some have suggested turning Mitchell into a receiver. I think it’s a difficult concept for a guy who tries to avoid contact. It’s hard to see him working the middle of the field as a slot receiver, and he’s just too small to try on the outside. But can you imagine Mitchell lined up on third down with Lamar Jackson? This guy could go anywhere after the first two rounds of the draft. Mitchell has little special teams experience. Round 4-6.
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Rodriguez is 6’ and 217 lbs. from Kentucky. Rodriquez is your classic north-south between the tackles, and short yardage running back. He’s very physical and tough to bring down, and he’ll get you yards after first contact. What he is not is explosive or elusive. He’s not going to create opportunities with any type of regularity. I virtually never saw Rodriguez cut anything to the outside. Talk about a linear runner. Now he ran a 4.51 on his pro day, but he looked slower to me on film as he’s constantly banging guys and rarely gets a chance to get to full speed.
Rodriguez runs upright. He’s not going to run away from pursuit. He doesn’t offer much in the passing game. I don’t really care for one-dimensional bruisers in the NFL. I think he’s overrated by some observers. Round 7.
Great research as always