2022 NFL Draft: 1st RB Selected Odds and Picks

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?

Best of the Best

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.

The Contender

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 Sleeper

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.

2022 NFL Draft 1st RB Selected Prediction

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

Odds to be 1st RB Selected in the 2022 NFL Draft

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

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