Joel Klatt draws similarities between Jonathon Brooks and Bijan Robinson, other NFL stars

Joel Klatt believes former Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks can have success in the NFL because of his versatility. On The Joel Klatt Show, Klatt revealed his 10 “Plant the Flag” players of the 2024 NFL Draft and Brooks came in at No. 7. He believes because Brooks can run routes and catch the ball out of the backfield, he can be a top NFL running back like his former Texas teammate Bijan Robinson.

“This is a player I believe will have a lot of success in the National Football League,” Klatt said. He might not be as dynamic as Bijan Robinson, which is why he won’t go in the first round, or maybe even Jahmyr Gibbs. But he possesses similar qualities as those guys in that he can do everything that you require a running back to do from the backfield, and he can be a threat catching the football.”

Klatt went on to mention that Christian McCaffrey started the trend of running backs being able to catch the football and make an impact. He also mentioned Marshall Faulk as another player who could be “dangerous” out of the backfield.

“But McCaffrey is the modern guy that everyone looks at and it’s like okay to be a great elite running back in this league, you really have to impact the game on both sides as a running and a pass catcher,” Klatt explained. “That’s why Gibbs was so valuable. That’s why Bijan was so valuable. And now I think that’s why Jonathan Brooks is going to have a successful career and why it’s a very easy proclamation to sit here and say Jonathan Brooks is going to be a really good pro.”

Which team will draft Jonathon Brooks?

Brooks had a memorable 2023 season at Texas. He finished the year with 1,139 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 187 carries. As a receiver, Brooks caught 25 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown. At the end of the year, Brooks was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and a Doak Walker Award semifinalist.

In Field Yates’ latest mock draft, he has Brooks going to the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (No. 56 overall). Yates wrote, “It feels like a foregone conclusion that the Cowboys will take a back at some point in the draft after losing Tony Pollard this offseason. Brooks probably wouldn’t still be available if he had not torn his ACL back in early November, but Dallas is unafraid of taking swings on Day 2.”