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NFL teams are often reluctant to draft a running back in the first round. Many teams get by without having a so-called “top prospect” in the backfield. Last season, Pittsburgh selected Najee Harris with the 24th pick in the draft. Jacksonville took Travis Etienne with the very next pick. In 2020, the Chiefs selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the very last pick of the first round. While not a priority for every team, teams like Houston and Atlanta could really use a quality running back. There are a handful of prospects in the 2022 running back draft class worthy of being selected first. Who will it be? For likely the first time in his career, Iowa State’s Breece Hall (-250) is not underrated. He was an underrated high school prospect at Northwest HS in Wichita, Kansas. He came to Iowa State and very quietly became a two-time AP All-American, a two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and a two- time Top 10 Heisman Trophy finisher. Hall ran for 1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. More importantly, he caught 36 passes too. He can do it all from the backfield and he really made a name for himself at the NFL Combine. Hall ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, recorded a 40-inch vertical jump, and a 10-6 broad jump. He is big at 5-11 and 220 pounds and established himself as the overall favorite to be the first back picked this NFL draft. Kenneth Walker III was a pretty good running back at Wake Forest but decided to transfer to Michigan State before the 2021 season. It proved to be a good move. In his first six games with the Spartans, Walker went over 230 yards twice. He would finish the season with 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns. Walker, who is given +200 odds to be the first running back picked this year, ran a solid 4.38 in the 40- yard dash. At 5-9 and 210 pounds, he has a typical NFL RB build. Many scouts believe he lacks a dominant trait that will carry over to the NFL. His fast 40 time helped him, but he might be a guy that has to fit into a certain scheme to have immediate NFL success. The top four rushers in the NFL last year were Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb, Joe Mixon, and Najee Harris. They all have something in common. They are big and fast. Taylor checks in at 5-10, 226. Chubb is 5-11, 227. Mixon is 6-1, 220 and Harris is 6-1 and weighs 232 pounds. The previous two seasons, the leading rusher in the NFL was Derrick Henry. He’s even bigger. What the best rushing offenses in the league like in a running back is the size-speed combination. Alabama’s Brian Robinson Jr. is that guy this year. He wasn’t a starter until the 2021 season, but he went out with a bang. It was Robinson that rushed for 204 yards in the College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Cincinnati. Robinson is 6-2 and weighs 226 pounds. His official 40 time is 4.53, which is fast enough. Since he doesn’t have the hype of some others in this draft, Robinson is listed at +2500 to be the first back picked. Hall appears to be the guy. He can do it all and he tested well. If you’re looking for the “but,” here it comes. But, there’s one guy here that fits the mold of big-time NFL running back. Plus, he doesn’t have the wear and tear of some of the others here because he wasn’t a starter until last season. Robinson has the size, the speed, and the complete package to be a top-5 running back in the league. PICK: BRIAN ROBINSON +2500 Breece Hall -250 Kenneth Walker III +200 Isaiah Spiller +650 Kyren Williams +1800 Dameon Pierce +2000 Brian Robinson Jr. +2500 Tyler Allgeier +2500 James Cook +2500 Isiah Pacheco +4000 Rachaad White +5000 Zamir White +5000 Hassan Haskins +5000 Pierre Strong Jr. +5000 Jerome Ford +10000 Tyler Goodson +10000 Tyler Badie +10000 Ty Chandler +10000 Zonovan Knight +10000 D’vonte Price +10000 ZaQuandre White +10000 Jerrion Ealy +15000 We also have 2022 NFL draft 1st QB selected predictions and 2022 NFL draft 1st overall selection predictions.Best of the Best
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About the Author
Rick Bouch is a former high school, college, and professional athlete who now spends his time writing about sports and sports betting. Rick has played and coached football at various levels and brings a unique perspective to sports handicapping. He is continuously on the cutting edge of all things football. While college football is his specialty, Rick’s knowledge spans all of the major sports.
