Entering the offseason, the Miami Dolphins had a completely empty running back room, as Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed were all expected to be free agents.
However, just a month after the start of the new league year, all four backs have signed back with Miami for at least the 2023 season.
Four veterans on the roster shouldn’t stop general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel from considering running backs during the upcoming draft, as they could find future replacements for those currently in aqua and orange.
Here’s an option in each round of this draft for Miami to consider at the position:
First round - Bijan Robinson, Texas
Career stats: 3,410 yards and 33 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per attempt. 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 60 receptions.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s analysis:
“Full-menu back blending a smorgasbord of position-specific traits that allow him to affect games. Robinson is well-built with a compact lower half and pairs a low center of gravity with agile feet. There are elements of both fight and flight in his running style, but defenders can never be quite sure what they are going to get. He’s a capable inside/outside runner with unique footwork to stack moves and reset pathways, but can plow into tacklers at a moment’s notice using elite contact balance to keep the run rolling. He might need to dial back efforts to search out big runs so frequently and take what is there a little more often to keep from getting bogged down. His pass-catching talent ensures the opportunity for Robinson to see a high number of touches. He has a chance to become one of the more productive runners in the league very quickly.”
Second round - Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Career stats: 2,132 yards and 15 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt. 1,212 yards and eight touchdowns on 103 receptions.
“While Gibbs might not be the engine of an NFL running game, he’s more than capable of adding juice to the offense. He’s a slasher who can stretch defenses wide, and he has the wiggle to elude tacklers in space. However, he could see his effectiveness diminished inside. Gibbs might be better off with a more measured carry count as an RB2, but his versatility and pass-catching prowess will give creative play-callers an opportunity to exploit certain personnel groupings and find mismatches in space.”
Third round - Tyjae Spears, Tulane
Career stats: 2,910 yards and 31 touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry. 564 yards and three touchdowns on 48 receptions.
“Spears has the size of a change-of-pace back, but he needs to play with more consistent explosiveness, as he’s unlikely to offer the versatility typically expected from a player in that role. He’s coming off an extremely productive and consistent season as Tulane’s RB1, though. He runs with good bend, average vision and the patience to use lead blockers to his advantage. Spears possesses modest creativity and power through the line of scrimmage but becomes more elusive once he’s up to the second level.”
Fourth round - Israel Abanikanda, Pitt
Career stats: 2,177 yards and 28 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt. 354 yards and three touchdowns on 38 receptions.
“A zone-scheme runner with early down size, Abanikanda can be a bit inconsistent with his reads and tempo early in the run. However, he has plant-and-go agility and is able to snap off cuts at tight angles to elude short-area traffic when needed. He has terrific top-end speed to gash a poorly fitted run front, but he needs to run with better discipline and downhill decisiveness to stay ahead of NFL speed. Abanikanda isn’t much of a third down option, but he does have the size and talent to compete for a RB2/3 slot early on with a chance to move up the depth chart in time.”
Fifth round - Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
Career stats: 1,582 yards and 16 touchdowns on 5.7 yards per carry. 861 yards and four touchdowns on 76 receptions.
“McIntosh is best suited for a complementary role that allows him to explore the flanks of the offense instead of trying to pound and create between the tackles. He lacks the vision to recognize and exploit opportunities quickly and the elusiveness to dart in and out of developing run lanes. He’s more than capable of finding big runs over the tackles and becomes a more physical finisher as the run progresses. McIntosh has excellent hands and the potential to mismatch coverages when isolated out of the backfield. He could become a RB2 with full-time third-down reps.”
Sixth round - Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
Career stats: 3,604 yards and 34 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry. 1,280 yards and nine touchdowns on 116 receptions.
“Vaughn’s playing style is similar to that of former NFL running back Jacquizz Rodgers, but Rodgers was much heavier than Vaughn at a similar height. Despite the versatility, production and durability, teams might focus on his lack of size. However, he sees the field clearly, is fearless between the tackles, possesses quality contact balance and finds his way into the end zone as a runner and receiver. Vaughn has an uphill climb ahead of him, but his history of consistent, high-end production makes the climb to success seem achievable.”
Seventh round - Chris Smith, Louisiana
Career stats: 2,166 yards and 16 touchdowns on 5.8 yards per carry. 400 yards and three touchdowns on 52 receptions.
