Winner: Running backs are back, baby!
Who said the NFL doesn’t love running backs any more? Two of them were selected in the first eight picks, continuing a mini-trend that the Dallas Cowboys started in 2016 when they drafted Ezekiel Elliott No. 4 overall.
Following in Elliott’s footsteps, Leonard Fournette was the No. 4 pick of the 2017 NFL draft, selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars. This pick fits a big need for the Jags, as they can now confidently hand the ball off to a guy who’s capable of handling the load. It protects Blake Bortles, who needed the help, and gives the offense much-needed balance.
Four picks later, the Carolina Panthers — a team that was heavily linked to Fournette and the man they eventually landed — selected Christian McCaffrey out of Stanford. This is a tremendous selection for the Panthers, who now have the most dynamic backfield in the NFL with Cam Newton and Run CMC.
Christian McCaffrey and Cam Newton in the same backfield = NFC South defenses pic.twitter.com/AMtenmwFbi
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) April 28, 2017
Granted, both McCaffrey and Fournette were highly valued throughout the pre-draft process. But for a position that was seen to be devalued around the league, suddenly running backs are the flavor of the week again in the NFL.