I really like Rice, as I'm sure is clear. I believe that Stewart can be a franchise back and possibly, over time, become better then Barber. He may be from a spread offense but he can play football. If Mendenhall fell to us, I would seriously have to consider picking him high. I think he's going to be very good. However, I also think that he needs to share carries because he takes punishment.
There are several backs that I like a lot in this draft. Heck, I would not mind drafting a guy like Slaton in the 4th and trying to sign, or draft late, a RB like Jalene Parmele or Hilliard. I just think that for out needs, we can afford to target with skills that fit what we are looking for and maybe move up a little bit to get him. Honestly, Barber is a really great back IMO. I was rewatching him this weekend and he really is a excellent back. He does a lot of little things that you just don't pay attention to when he's running the ball that makes him very good.
If we can figure out how to get another WR to stretch the field out a little bit more, he can be even more succesful then he was last year IMO. We have a franchise back. We just need to get somebody who can be productive with maybe 150 carries between the back up and the 3rd down back.