RB Career Averages by Draft Position

[plasticman]

Since 1970, number of RB's drafted is in parenthesis.

Draft Position: Top Ten Overall (58)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 17.2%
Average years as a starter: 5.7 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: 1.8
Yardage Leader: Walter Payton
Top Cowboy: Tony Dorsett


Draft Position: 1st round from pick #11 to last (111)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 1.8%
Average years as a starter: 3.2 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .75
Yardage Leader: Emmitt Smith
Top Cowboy Emmitt Smith

Draft Position: 2nd round (148)
Percent in the Hall of Fame:.68%
Average years as a starter: 2.3 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .52
Yardage Leader: Thurman Thomas
Top Cowboy: Robert Newhouse


Draft Position: 3rd round (157)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: .63%
Average years as a starter: 1.5 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .26
Yardage Leader: Curtis Martin
Top Cowboy: DeMarco Murray


Draft Position: 4th round (159)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 0%
Average years as a starter: .86 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .14
Yardage Leader: Stephen Davis
Top Cowboy Marion Barber


Draft Position: 5th round (155)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 0%
Average years as a starter: .78 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .12
Yardage Leader: Herschel Walker
Top Cowboy Herschel Walker

Draft Position: 6th and 7th round (336)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 0%
Average years as a starter: .52 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .06
Yardage Leader: Terrell Davis
Top Cowboy: Timmy Newsome

Notes:

1. Herschell Walker would have been the first player taken in the draft if were not for the formation of a new league that signed him.

2. Thomas Thurman was regarded as a 1st round pick until allegations of drug use just before the draft. The allegations were never proven and he went on to a Hall of Fame career.

3. Curtis Martin played in only two games his senior year, then received a season ending injury. Most beleived that if he had not been injured then he have been a sure 1st round pick, most likely top ten. In his first game as a pro the future Hall of Famer ran for 30 yards on his 1st carry and ended the game with over a hundred yards. He was the leading rusher his rookie year.

4. Nine of the top 12 rushers of all time were top ten picks. Only 4 of the top 20 were not 1st round picks.

 

[plasticman]

Terrell Davis was the last RB to be Super Bowl MVP, which he got in 1997. In all, seven RB's have been Super Bowl MVP.

Terrell Davis was also the only one not to be a 1st round draft pick.

 

[coach steele]

Terrell Davis was the last RB to be Super Bowl MVP, which he got in 1997. In all, seven RB's have been Super Bowl MVP.

Terrell Davis was also the only one not to be a 1st round draft pick.

Good work! I suspect that the numbers will be distributed differently in the future due to the devaluing of the position. I'd be interested to see % of running backs drafted for each round every half decade. Bet it's a downward trend.

 

[plasticman]

Good work! I suspect that the numbers will be distributed differently in the future due to the devaluing of the position. I'd be interested to see % of running backs drafted for each round every half decade. Bet it's a downward trend.

If you are talking about rushing yrdage then I would agree. However, somebody still has to start, somnebody still has to be selected for the Pro bowls so I think that would be pretty consistant.

However, I suspect that what you would see is a trend showing a decrese in the average drafting position, particularly in the top rounds. You might also see the rushing yards decreasing while the receiving yards for RB's increase. I'll test that assumption some time in the future.

 

[dallasdave]

Since 1970, number of RB's drafted is in parenthesis.

Draft Position: Top Ten Overall (58)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 17.2%
Average years as a starter: 5.7 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: 1.8
Yardage Leader: Walter Payton
Top Cowboy: Tony Dorsett


Draft Position: 1st round from pick #11 to last (111)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 1.8%
Average years as a starter: 3.2 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .75
Yardage Leader: Emmitt Smith
Top Cowboy Emmitt Smith

Draft Position: 2nd round (148)
Percent in the Hall of Fame:.68%
Average years as a starter: 2.3 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .52
Yardage Leader: Thurman Thomas
Top Cowboy: Robert Newhouse


Draft Position: 3rd round (157)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: .63%
Average years as a starter: 1.5 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .26
Yardage Leader: Curtis Martin
Top Cowboy: DeMarco Murray


Draft Position: 4th round (159)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 0%
Average years as a starter: .86 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .14
Yardage Leader: Stephen Davis
Top Cowboy Marion Barber


Draft Position: 5th round (155)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 0%
Average years as a starter: .78 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .12
Yardage Leader: Herschel Walker
Top Cowboy Herschel Walker

Draft Position: 6th and 7th round (336)
Percent in the Hall of Fame: 0%
Average years as a starter: .52 years
Average number of Pro Bowl Selections: .06
Yardage Leader: Terrell Davis
Top Cowboy: Timmy Newsome

Notes:

1. Herschell Walker would have been the first player taken in the draft if were not for the formation of a new league that signed him.

2. Thomas Thurman was regarded as a 1st round pick until allegations of drug use just before the draft. The allegations were never proven and he went on to a Hall of Fame career.

3. Curtis Martin played in only two games his senior year, then received a season ending injury. Most beleived that if he had not been injured then he have been a sure 1st round pick, most likely top ten. In his first game as a pro the future Hall of Famer ran for 30 yards on his 1st carry and ended the game with over a hundred yards. He was the leading rusher his rookie year.

4. Nine of the top 12 rushers of all time were top ten picks. Only 4 of the top 20 were not 1st round picks.

Dallas should get a RB high in the draft !!!!

 

[coach steele]

If you are talking about rushing yrdage then I would agree. However, somebody still has to start, somnebody still has to be selected for the Pro bowls so I think that would be pretty consistant.

However, I suspect that what you would see is a trend showing a decrese in the average drafting position, particularly in the top rounds. You might also see the rushing yards decreasing while the receiving yards for RB's increase. I'll test that assumption some time in the future.

My point is that less running backs are being selected in the first round altogether. Due to this and the point that someone must start, the distribution of where pro bowlers are selected will start to change.

 

[plasticman]

My point is that less running backs are being selected in the first round altogether. Due to this and the point that someone must start, the distribution of where pro bowlers are selected will start to change.

You are absolutely right, and for good reason.

In the 70's and 80"s the NFL averaged around 5 RB's drafted in the 1st round. In the 90's it was reduced to 3.5, then 3.2 from 2000 to 2009.

In the six drafts from 2010 to 2015 the average is 1.5.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Gurley was the only RB last year that earned his 1st round status. Gordon not so much.. And Zeke Elliot ain't no Gurley.

 

[lkelly]

Comparing the NFL over the previous 6 decades to the last 5 years is like saying that WRs that catch 1000 yards worth of passes are the greatest ever. The game has changed dramatically in the last 10 and made the RB position one that you don't throw a lot of resources towards.

The Chiefs ran off double digit wins in a row after their stud RB was injured. The Panthers and Seahawks didn't miss a beat when their staring RBs went down. I'll cringe if Dallas drops a first on a RB. Then again I have done a lot of cringing the last 20 years.

 

[plasticman]

But now, we also have to consider the receiving yardage of RB's because there many offensesbthat empliyva short passing game which can become more of a long handoff to a RB with space.

I wonder how much thought Jerry Jones put into the fact that DeMarco Murrayvwas the Coeboy's 3rd leading receiver during the combined four years he was here.

A RB with great receing skills puts an exciting dynamics in an offense and Garrett has always made that part of his offense.

I'm thinking the Cowboys don't need the nextbAdrian Peterson, perhaps the next Ray Rice/Matt Forte.