Is Investing Big in Running Backs the Secret to NFL Success—or a Costly Gamble?

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is the clear star of the group, but he’s the only one with true first-round pedigree. The others who could crack the first or second round are Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. That means there are, at worst, 10 other running backs sprinkled throughout the rest of the draft teams who could potentially find early success.

And there is a pattern to support this.

Some of the best rookie running backs over the past five years – with staying power, at least – were drafted outside the first round. There have been only three first-rounders since 2019, and two came in 2022 (Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs). Others like Isiah Pacheco, Bucky Irving and Tyrone Tracy were drafted in the fourth round or later and were quality starters in 2024.

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