Matt Miller says 2024 NFL draft has no first-round running backs

We already know that the NFL doesn’t prioritize running backs in the draft. And these players are also having a more difficult time signing high-dollar deals once they get past their original deals.

This year may be even worse when it comes to the NFL Draft. Matt Miller, a draft analyst for ESPN, said there likely will be no running backs selected in the first round. In fact, there may be no backs taken until late in the second round, after the first 50 players or so.

Miller appeared on the College GameDay podcast earlier this week to chat about the draft. The scouting process began this week with both the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine games. The Senior Bowl practices are akin to mini scouting combines. And scouts also watched the workouts for the Shrine Game, which unfolded Thursday night at The Star in Frisco, Texas. But according to Miller, you’d be hard-pressed to find a back with an elite NFL Draft grade.

Miller said Jonathon Brooks, the former Texas Longhorn star, had been a possibility. “Maybe Jonathan Brooks was starting to trend in that direction,” Miller said. “Then people forget it. I know. You guys know. He didn’t start at the beginning of the year. CJ Baxter was starting for Texas. But Jonathon Brooks came in and absolutely took over (and) became someone that that offense could lean on.

“I think he was starting to trend in that direction, but had that unfortunate, you know, ACL injury later in the season,” Miller said. “But there’s not anyone right now (who) gives you the three-down ability of a Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs. (Those players) just don’t really exist in college football right now, (someone) who has that special blend of running ability, speed, power, pass catching ability.”

Brooks declared for NFL Draft, but still is rehabbing his knee

As Miller mentioned, Brooks tore his anterior cruciate ligament. He played in 11 games last fall for the Longhorns before he suffered the injury. Still, he rolled to 1,139 yards, giving Texas a consistent running game like the Longhorns enjoyed with Bijan Robinson. The Falcons, with the eighth pick, made Robinson the top running back in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions selected Gibbs, the former Alabama standout, with the 12th pick.

Brooks, although he still is rehabbing from ACL surgery, declared for this year’s draft.

Miller continued his running back assessment.

“We might not see a running back drafted in the top 50, which hasn’t been the case for quite some time, even as the positions been been devalued a little bit. So this could be a down year for the running back position. Our good friend Mel Kiper, Jr. will be the first to point out you shouldn’t draft a running back in the first round, anyway. So this is a year that will certainly backup that point.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Brooks still is the top running back prospect available in this year’s NFL Draft. But PFF ranked Brooks as the 64th-best overall prospect. Florida State’s Trey Benson is rated 86th, while Michigan’s Blake Corum is 95th. Those three are the only running backs in the top 100.