INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots haven't selected a running back in the draft since James White in 2014, but this may be the year they break the streak.
It appears Dion Lewis will depart via free agency and there's no guarantee Rex Burkhead re-signs. Mike Gillislee (who could be cut) and White are the only running backs officially signed for next season, not including Brandon Bolden, so it would seem the position needs another body.
Given the drought of selecting running backs in the draft, it seems time to get a little younger. Fortunately for the Patriots, this may be a good draft to get a good one.
"I think at running back you're going to see at all levels that you're going to have some high-end players and I think you're still going to see some really good players at the running back position come out of this draft third, fourth, fifth, sixth round," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Wednesday.
Added Lions GM Bob Quinn: "It's a deep class. Those guys weighed in [Wednesday] morning, I just came from there. It's a good looking crew. It's guys that have different skill sets. Guys that can carry the ball, guys that can catch. You know, one underrated aspect of this running back class as I go through it is pass protection. It's something that a lot of these guys are skilled at. With the passing games in college, which is really the key to most offenses, they have more experience in pass protection. So, it's a little bit easier to get the evaluation done. You're not searching for those snaps quite as much as you might have been five or seven years ago. So, to kind of add that into the evaluation process, it's a little easier. When you put on three or four games you can tell if a guy can pass protect, which is crucial in this league."
This sets up nicely for the Patriots as they likely don't want to use one of their top picks on a running back since they have bigger needs, especially on defense, but it seems they can still get a productive one in the later rounds.
The Patriots value a few things when it comes to running backs, but the most important thing is versatility. The Patriots love backs who can run in between the tackles, but also catch passes out of the backfield. Another thing to keep in mind is they value ball security more than most teams, and also pay attention to three-cone times later in the week — another Patriots staple.
So, who are some names to look for as potential Patriots targets?
Akrum Wadley out of Iowa appears to be a possibility, as he's shown the ability to be a productive runner and pass catcher. He's ran for over 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons, while catching 28 passes in 2017 and 36 passes in 2016. Bill Belichick also has a connection wth Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.
Another name is Nyheim Hines out of NC State. As a junior this past fall, he rushed for 1,112 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also catching 26 passes out of the backfield. As a sophomore, he had 43 receptions, so the pass-catching ability is there.
A long-shot is Ito Smith out of Southern Mississippi. Smith was an absolute workhorse, as he totaled over 1,100 yards in each of the last three seasons, while also catching at least 40 passes in those years as well. The versatility is certainly there, but perhaps his usage could go against him.
Even though it's been awhile, it feels like this is the year for the Patriots to draft a running back.
