The 2024 NFL Draft is deeper at wide receiver and quarterback than in many years. The question many are debating is, who is the best running back in the NFL Draft? With the combine wrapped up, our 2024 NFL Draft RB rankings look at the best backs in this year’s class.
We’ll be the first to admit that there isn’t a single first-round talent at running back in 2024. While we won’t see a ball carrier come off the board in the first 40 picks, some of the best running backs in 2024 NFL Draft can still have a bright future at the highest level. Let’s dive into our rankings.
10. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin Badgers
Braelon Allen looked like one of the best running backs in college football as a freshman, rushing for 1,268 yards with 12 touchdowns and averaging 6.8 yards per carry. While he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in all three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers, he never replaced his freshman dominance. Allen’s age (20 years old) and size (6-foot-2 and 235 pounds) are enticing. However, he also has below-average vision and explosiveness in the box, which really limits any potential ceiling as an effective starter in the NFL.
Braelon Allen stats (career): 3,494 rushing yards, 5.9 yards per carry, 35 rushing touchdowns, 49 receptions, 275 receiving yards
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9. Bucky Irving, Oregon Ducks
Transferring from Minnesota to the University of Oregon was one of the best things for Bucky Irving’s career. The 5-foot-9 running back delivered consecutive 1,300-yard seasons in Eugene, emerging as one of the best players in the Pac-12 Conference. A pedestrian 40-yard dash resulted in a brutal 2.11 Relative Athletic Score for Irving, confirming that he’s not going to be anything close to a home-run threat in the NFL and he isn’t reliable in pass protection. However, he packs a punch at 192 pounds and he’s excellent at maintaining balance through contact. He can also give you something as a pass-catcher as well.
Bucky Irving stats (career): 2,937 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry, 20 rushing touchdowns, 95 receptions, 785 receiving yards, 8.3 yards per reception, 5 touchdowns (570 career touches)
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8. Will Shipley, Clemson Tigers
Once one of the top running back prospects coming out of high school, Will Shipley had plenty of hype when he joined the Clemson Tigers. Things didn’t go quite as planned, but there are plenty of reasons to believe Shipley can have a very successful NFL career. He doesn’t have the fame nor the ability to perform through contact consistently to be an every-down back at the next level, but Shipley can return kicks, be a weapon out of the backfield and there’s enough wiggle to make him a fairly effective rusher on limited carries. He’s well-suited to complement a featured back.
Will Shipley stats (career): 2,748 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 31 rushing touchdowns, 85 receptions, 602 receiving yards, 7.1 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns (611 touches)
7. Ray Davis, Kentucky Wildcats
Ray Davis has one of the best stories in the 2024 NFL Draft, but you can find more on that below. After stints at Temple and Vanderbilt, Davis thrived this past year with the Kentucky Wildcats. Davis has three-down ability in the NFL, demonstrating soft hands at Kentucky and proving he can carry a workload at multiple stops. He’s not going to break off many 40-plus yard runs, but Davis’ combination of excellent vision, elusiveness, patience and an ability to play through contact all suggests he’s a starter that NFL teams can grab in the middle rounds of this draft.
Ray Davis stats (career): 3,628 rushing yards, 4.9 yards per carry, 29 rushing touchdowns, 94 receptions, 762 receiving yards, 8.1 yards per reception, 12 touchdowns (840 touches)
Related: Ray Davis is one of the most inspirational players in the 2024 NFL Draft
6. Blake Corum, Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines won a national championship because of Blake Corum and he does plenty of things that NFL coaches will love. However, we’re not remotely close to considering him worth a spot close to the top of our 2024 NFL Draft RB rankings. Corum finished last reason ranked 62nd in missed tackles forced, 56th in breakaway run rate, 74th in Elusive rating and 74th in average yards after contact, per Pro Football Focus. He’s also an average athlete who is very undersized (5-foot-7) and carried a heavy workload at Michigan, when he wasn’t missing time with injuries. Corum can definitely be a very effective short-yardage back, but this isn’t a profile we’d want to bet on long term.
Blake Corum stats (career): 3,737 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 58 rushing touchdowns, 56 receptions, 411 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns (731 touches)
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5. Marshawn Lloyd, USC Trojans
Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, there are already a few qualities that make Marshawn Lloyd enticing. He recorded a solid 8.57 Relative Athletic Score in pre-draft testing and unlike some others in our 2024 NFL Draft running back rankings, he has less wear and tear entering the league. He is more flash than substance at this point, but his peaks show the burst, agility and long speed you find in playmakers. There’s a higher ceiling for Lloyd as an NFL starter, but he will need to do a much better job seeing the field. Improvements in that area are far from a given, hence why he’s here.
MarShawn Lloyd stats (career): 1,631 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry, 19 rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 452 receiving yards, 13.3 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns (325 touches)
4. Audric Estime, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
A 4.7 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine raised some concerns about Notre Dame’s Audric Estime, but he made up for it with a 4.5 time at his Pro Day. That is a far greater reflection of the kind of breakaway speed he offers. What Estime definitively brings at 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds is a battering ram. Give him just a little momentum and whether he lowers his shoulder or not, Estime is typically going to break through first contact. He also pairs that pop with a little flair, moving very well laterally for his size with moves and agility that can help him create space and then fight for extra yards. The NFL comparisons to a slightly improved version of Jamaal Williams hint at Estime’s potential.
Audric Estime stats (career): 2,321 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry, 29 rushing touchdowns, 26 receptions, 277 receiving yards, 10.7 yards per reception (399 touches)
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3. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee Volunteers
Jaylen Wright (9.80 Relative Athletic Score) is truly a treat to watch with the football in his hands. Last season with the Tennessee Volunteers, Wright led all SEC running backs in Breakaway Rate (52.1 percent) and Elusive Rating (132.2), per PFF. He is an elite athlete with the explosiveness at first touch to burst through holes and rip off 40-plus yard runs. He’s also a willing blocker at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, with strides being made as a pass-catcher. He doesn’t have elite patience or vision, which lowers his ceiling some, but there’s enough here for him to make a Pro Bowl or two in his career.
Jaylen Wright stats (career): 2,297 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry, 18 rushing touchdowns, 30 receptions, 171 receiving yards, 5.7 yards per reception (398 career touches)
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2. Trey Benson, Florida State Seminoles
Trey Benson is only among the few players in our 2024 NFL Draft running back rankings who we believe can be a three-down starter immediately as a rookie. Like some of the others near the top of our list, he doesn’t have a massive college workload in his history as he enters the NFL. What Benson does offer is excellent athleticism (9.70 Relative Athletic Score) and great size (6-foot and 216 pounds). As a runner, Benson delivers more than enough explosiveness and elusiveness to make some big plays, though, not nearly at the frequency he did at Florida State. He will learn quickly in the NFL that he can’t outrun everyone, meaning he must become more effective in the timing of his movement and how he tries to beat defenders. Still, he can be an above-average starter.
Trey Benson stats (career): 1,918 rushing yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 24 rushing touchdowns, 33 receptions, 371 receiving yards, 11.2 yards per reception, 1 touchdown (349 career touches)
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1. Jonathon Brooks, Texas Longhorns
Jonathon Brooks didn’t get an opportunity to prove himself at Texas until Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson left. Unfortunately, he only got a brief run as the starter in 2023 due to an ACL tear in November. However, his limited stint was outstanding. Brooks offers elite size, excellent power and was a phenomenal athlete when healthy. He does a great job avoiding unnecessary contact, understands how to make quick reads and cuts quickly and can also contribute on passing downs. Of all the running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft, Brooks is the one who might have a shot at earning an All-Pro selection at his peak. Of course, this is all dependent on him recapturing his form.
Jonathan Brooks stats (career): 1,479 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry, 16 rushing touchdowns, 28 receptions, 335 receiving yards, 12 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns (266 career touches)
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