Will McClay - Running backs in the NFL come from every round

[Reality]

So you wouldn’t have drafted Zeke ?
Or Barkley , Chubb ,

so you wouldn’t have drafted Zeke ?
Or if they were available
Barkley
McCaffrey
Chubb
Jacobs
Lynch
Lewis
Peterson
Tomlinson

In the last 10 years, no, I would not have.

A first round running back is usually a focal point of your offense and that creates problems if they are injured at some point because you don't have a second first round running back waiting to start if that happens.

It also means after 3 seasons, you will have to pay them a huge contract to keep them as their production starts to peak and/or decline.

If you throw numbers at the problem, you can maintain 2 solid-plus running backs every year by adding 2 to 4 new running backs to the mix via the draft and undrafted rookie pools, you have both consistency and redundancy every year at a key position.

That means you avoid having to spend a lot of money on it and are capable of weathering injuries.

 

[plasticman]

4 out of 5 super bowl wins by the Cowboys (at least) had 1st round RBs with Dorsett and Smith.

Both Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas, who shared RB duties, were 1st round picks.

Therefore, the Cowboys have never won a Super Bowl without at least one RB drafted in the first round.

 

[dacopacabana]

Thanks for throwing away 4th round picks on bums. Bucky Irving was available at the pick Dallas wasted on Lance.

Gonna be a run on RBs in the 4th that was wasted on wr5 from Carolina.

 

[DFWJC]

I want to take one too

But a now fully healthy 25 year old Javonte Williams might beat out any of those guys in year 1.

Then again, Maybe not!
That's why I'd like to draft one and find out.

We won't know if we don't try

 

[charron]

Apparently not in the 6th or we get stuck with a coaches kid who can't play.

 

[Jarntt]

 

[Montanalo]

For the most part RB, IOL and LBs are considered fugible assets... relatively easy to replace or upgrade.

Of course, drafting a RB early can be a game changer, but other positions like QB, LT, edge, WR generally yield greater value.

 

[gimmesix]

If that's their best work, they need to be fired.

Last year, Carson, Flournoy, Thomas, Rogers. No starters and barely any contributors among them, but jury's still out.

2023: Fehoko, Richards, Scott, Vaughn, Brooks, Three backups and two failures.

2022: Ferguson, Waletzko, Bland, Clark, Ridgeway, Harper. This is probably the best we can expect. Two starters, two backups and a couple of failures.

2021: Cox, Ball, Fehoko, Bohanna, Mukuamu, Farniok. And this is probably as bad as we can expect. One contributor and five failures.

McClay is as bad as our fans in trying to make it look like we can expect great things today when it doesn't fit reality.

 

[Bamx]

Expect they didn't draft one last year and the FA they signed was a washed up Zeke. They could have drafted Bucky Irving last year who went in the 4th round

 

[gimmesix]

Of course they do. It's not a position you need to burn a first round on or second or third. Not when the players we drafted are available.

The Cowboys are killing this draft so far. You can find a RB in FA. Or via trade or even as UDFA.

Our fans can be pathetic.

If you get lucky. The failure rate is high. We have to believe our team is the team that is going to pick the right one.

You can find them, but it's not easy. That's why I agree with what was said earlier about needing to use more than one pick on the position and even bringing in multiple UDFAs.

I mean, the draft picks could be Bo Scarbrough and Mike Weber while a UDFA might be Rico Dowdle. If you are not going to go for the sure bets early (and even those aren't absolutely sure) then you need to throw a bunch of darts and see what sticks.

 

[Paperbag]

In the last 10 years, no, I would not have.

A first round running back is usually a focal point of your offense and that creates problems if they are injured at some point because you don't have a second first round running back waiting to start if that happens.

It also means after 3 seasons, you will have to pay them a huge contract to keep them as their production starts to peak and/or decline.

If you throw numbers at the problem, you can maintain 2 solid-plus running backs every year by adding 2 to 4 new running backs to the mix via the draft and undrafted rookie pools, you have both consistency and redundancy every year at a key position.

That means you avoid having to spend a lot of money on it and are capable of weathering injuries.

Ok
What if it’s the one peace you’re missing ?
If your close and all you need is a dominant RB and you can get them late in Rd one
You still wouldn’t ?

That way you have the beast chance to win while they aren’t broken down and before you have to pay them

I know you can still get lucky in the later rounds like we did with DeMarco Murray but the seems like the exception rather than the rule

Barkley made a huge impact for Philly as did C MaC for the 49ers

 

[morasp]

The top running backs last year were picked at 125 and 166.

 

[dacopacabana]

Thanks for throwing away 4th round picks on bums. Bucky Irving was available at the pick Dallas wasted on Lance.

Gonna be a run on RBs in the 4th that was wasted on wr5 from Carolina.

 

[JeffInDC]

Hope so.

We are getting into the scrubs now.

I know the DB was too much to pass on, but one of the OH St. RBs would have been a huge pick for our offense.

RB scrubs don’t work.

While you and I have disagreed on topics before, I’m guessing we can both agree that the updated list of available RB’s: Sampson, Neal, Giddens, Blue, Gordon, Martinez, James, Etienne, B. Smith, Hunter, etc…are probably BETTER DAY 1 than what is currently chilling at the Star these days.

 

[quickccc]

I have seen too many running backs in the NFL, not just with the Cowboys, have amazing rookie seasons only to fall off after their first or second season.

I always attributed it to fresh legs and less overthinking during their first season until their team adds more thinking and less instincts to their game after their first season.

Whatever the reason, it's just not worth investing high round draft picks on a position with so many replacements available.

- Methinks it depends upon what makes those post-rookie RBs fall off ...ala freak injuries, poor support cast, overhaul coach-change or as i've seen many time, coaches that just overload, pound and wear & tear them to the ground.(the later is what i believe happened to Zeke here)

- Also what rounds do you consider high picks ? 1st and 2nd rounds ?

- And if it were that easy to find one, wouldn't every NFL team needing an impact, difference making starting RB ..already have one ?

 

[CATCH17]

I have seen too many running backs in the NFL, not just with the Cowboys, have amazing rookie seasons only to fall off after their first or second season.

I always attributed it to fresh legs and less overthinking during their first season until their team adds more thinking and less instincts to their game after their first season.

Whatever the reason, it's just not worth investing high round draft picks on a position with so many replacements available.

If you can get people blocked a lot of guys will produce big numbers.

Most of these RBs are insane athletes.

 

[CATCH17]

- Methinks it depends upon what makes those post-rookie RBs fall off ...ala freak injuries, poor support cast, overhaul coach-change or as i've seen many time, coaches that just overload, pound and wear & tear them to the ground.(the later is what i believe happened to Zeke here)

- Also what rounds do you consider high picks ? 1st and 2nd rounds ?

- And if it were that easy to find one, wouldn't every NFL team needing an impact, difference making starting RB ..already have one ?

If you can get a Jeanty then you do it.

But stud RBs are found in every round like McClay said.

 

[quickccc]

Thanks for throwing away 4th round picks on bums. Bucky Irving was available at the pick Dallas wasted on Lance.

Gonna be a run on RBs in the 4th that was wasted on wr5 from Carolina.

Was RB Bucky Irving on Wil McClay's draft board during that draft class..? if not, it's irrelevant.

 

[quickccc]

If you can get a Jeanty then you do it.

But stud RBs are found in every round like McClay said.

Aah .. and yet where/who are our stud RBs on this current roster ?

And why did we not draft a stud RB in any round last year ?

 

[kskboys]

If you can get a Jeanty then you do it.

But stud RBs are found in every round like McClay said.

Not really. Sure, there's an exception every now and then, just like every position, but most stud RBs were taken in rounds 1/2.