April 19, 2023 • 18 mins
Tune-in as Paul Perillo, Mike Dussault, Evan Lazar and Matisse Baumann break down all the top talent at the running back position in the 2023 NFL Draft and which prospects may have a fit with the Patriots.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Draft Prospect Review podcast on Patriots dot
Com Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Welcome to an NFL draft.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The Draft Prospect Review podcast is your source for all
the latest news and information on the NFL Draft.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The New England Patriots like now.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Here to preview the running backs the writers of Patriots
dot Com.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Back here at Jillett Stadium front of the Draft Podcast Review.
We're going to talk about running backs today, a little
bit more of a glamour position, although not first round
glamour if you want to go by the recent NFL
draft history. But there are some guys in this draft,
one in particular, that's getting a lot of buzz around
New England, and running back is always one of those
(00:40):
polarizing positions. Don't say that too fast, you pop your
p's and sound silly, but b Jon Robinson out of
Texas is a guy that a lot of people really
I haven't really heard anybody who's not very high in
this prospect. The the debate comes with if you take him,
(01:03):
how early do you take him and how much of
an impact does he have on your team? And some people,
some of the higher profile draft knicks, have mocked him
to the Patriots at fourteen, so I want to talk
about Jon Robinson. First, I'll let you guys go at it,
and then I want to talk about realistic everybody else expectations.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
For the Patriots. So let's talk about Jon Robinson.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Well, I think a lot of us were just, you know,
surprised to see people mocking him to the Patriots. I
mean it's a mocker, Yeah, it's a mockery. But he's
you know, he's an outstanding player. So when you say,
just generally, what does the Patriots offense need? I think
they need playmakers, They need guys who can do special things.
I don't think they have, you know, any of those
guys really right now. So in that regard, I guess
I understand it. But I think you're just going to
get to the point in the draft where someone will
(01:46):
take him mid first round, late first round, somewhere and there,
and everyone will be like, well, they got to steal,
They got to steal because they were willing to get.
You know, what will actually look like on the field,
How reliant on that player will they become? Will they
become you know the Giants with Saiquan Will they become
the Derrick Henry Kunt of dependent Titans? We'll see, but
I think he'll he'll make a really great addition to
some team and he'll have an impact, He'll change the
(02:07):
dynamic of an offense somewhere along that line.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
I mean, he's a beast, but do you really need him, Like,
you don't end up in a situation where you have
the fifth year option and you're stuck with this great player,
but you know he kind of hampered your future with him.
But I mean, as Mike said, he'd be great anywhere
he goes.
Speaker 6 (02:23):
So yeah, I just don't think the Patriots are in
a position to make a pick like this. If this
was the Dynasty era of Patriots and Tom Brady was
still here and they still had the roster all figured
out and everything, and they wanted to add Bejon Robinson
as the cherry on top to everything else, then that's fantastic.
I would be all for it. It's similar to how
the Niners traded for Christian McCaffrey. Right, they have everything else,
(02:45):
but they just needed that one more thing to kind
of get them over the top, so they went out
and got McCaffrey. The Patriots have too many immediate holes
at other positions on this roster that we've talked about
at nauseum for six months. It feels like now that
it just doesn't make make much sense from a positional
value standpoint to take Bejon. I would also have mentioned
you mentioned Derrick Henry's Titans. I think that's the model
(03:08):
of what you maybe hope to become if you're gonna
center it all around and running back, and is that
really is that really the direction that we all want
them to take the team in, and all want them
to take the offense in where you're so heavily reliant
on the running back being dominant and running for two
thousand yards and then making your play action passing game ridiculous,
(03:30):
and all these types of things that went into those
Titans teams.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
I just I just can't help but imagine, like what
he would do with the Bills. You know, a team
that hasn't really looked interested in running the ball, hasn't
been all of a sudden, they've got a running game
that's gonna that would totally change their dynamic. So in
a team like that, he's a great fit and I
and it makes total sense to him.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
See I look at him as the way Evan said
with McCaffrey you know that team that has one missing
piece and whether that's a if that's a running back,
then then find and I can. This is one of
those where like I often sort of clap back against
the uh, well, he wouldn't have been he wouldn't have
(04:07):
worked for the Patriots. But this is one that I
think is accurate in that regard. I think he'd be
a really good player no matter where he goes. We
all just you know, I agree with everything you guys
just said. But for the Patriots, they need more than
just another you know, running back. They need a lot
of stuff to get more dynamic on offense. And another
team might get him and it might put him over
(04:29):
the top, whether it's Buffalo. I mean, I think they
kind of want to turn it over to James Cook
and have Damian Harris be there a little short yardage
guy and maybe be more productive in the red zone.
But you know, if he goes to like a Kansas City,
it gives him a different dimension. And I could see
it now I can hear like my boys on my shows,
you know, the Patriots couldn't used a guy like that
(04:50):
or whatever. It's not the same. It's not the same.
I think a really good offense that's looking for one piece.
Corey Dillon in right, you know, like it works, but
I don't think it's necessarily gonna have the same impact.
I think you'd be a great player for the Patriots
with vermondre Stevenson. Don't think it would have the same impact.
(05:12):
I'd rather see if they're gonna go for a back
Jamiir Gibbs, I think a little bit later, you know, now,
maybe he doesn't go that much later. Maybe he's a
first round pick too and you.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Can't get him.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
But I think if you're going to get a running back,
you know me, you know my feelings on running backs
in general, do that on your own.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I love Gibbs. I think he's such a player. You
have to keep in mind. You know, we talk so
much about.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Say Flowers and you know, slot guys just match up pieces,
and you know, he's a running back. Yeah, but I
also think with Bill O'Brien, knowing what he can do,
he's a matchup piece too, and maybe, you know, maybe
more versatile than like a James White could be, but
could be not that they want a three down running back,
but could be you know, that kind of player that
could impact the game in so many different ways that
he could play with So with Gibbs, for me, that's
(05:53):
what's most intriguing of all.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right, Hey, we didn't get one of the top slot receivers.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
You know, if you can't get Save Flowers, is it
really do you really go down to like the Josh
Downs of the world, or do you consider somebody like Gibbs.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I think that's a conversation.
Speaker 6 (06:03):
So let me just set you guys up.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Wont to set the table for you guys and let
it rip for you know, the next five minutes or so.
That's the high end running backs that are available. I
think we all agree, really good players, probably not the
smartest picks for the Patriots at fourteen. So we remindri
Stevenson year three, he's the guy. They clearly need some
help for him. Last year we saw him wear down
(06:26):
toward the end when Damien Harris wasn't available. They need
to replace Damien Harris. They have James Robinson, some sketchy
injury history there, so not necessarily a guy that you
rely on. They have two young guys and Kevin Harris
and Pierre Strong. Okay, running back is probably a secondary need.
Can we all agree on that. Yep, yes, okay, So
(06:48):
how early are you guys willing to take a running
back and then give me some examples of guys that
maybe catch your eye. I have one guy who I
absolutely love. I'll save him if you guys don't mention hum.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
So, I think I've had one rule about running back
sinceays Bijon stuff came out, and that is it just
can't be the first pick in the draft. I can't
stomach that. If they take a running back with the
first pick in the draft, I'm out. Now. If they
take Jamiir Gibbs with their second pick in the draft,
then I'm okay with that. But I actually think that
(07:17):
there's a slight chance. I'm not saying it's a high chance.
I think there's a slight chance that Jamiir Gibbs the
first running back off the board because his ability in
the passing game and his speed. He's just a different
kind of back than Bijon Robinson. Robinson's the type of guy.
He's a Derrick Henry. He's gonna have to carry the
ball three hundred times a year to really maximize his impact,
(07:39):
whereas a guy like Jamiir Gibbs is kind of like
what Mike was talking about is just a matchup weapon
that you find space for him, and he's gonna make
big plays happen. A little bit more of a twenty
twenty three running back than Bijon is And I think
there's a chance at a team that is very, very
pass heavy, like a Kansas City or like Cincinnati, or
(08:01):
like a Buffalo that doesn't necessarily look at their roster
and say we're going to run it fifty to fifty,
We're going to try to throw it still. I could
see Gibbs being that type of guy. He's got one
of the best. You know, he he goes zero to
sixty faster than anybody I've seen in a long time.
You know, he's got that ability to just put his
foot in the ground and go. Now, if you want
to talk about the other running backs, I think there's
(08:23):
a couple that that stand out in that middle round area,
you know, maybe the third to the fifth let's call
it uh Taji Spears from Tulane's a fun player. I
think he's just I think he's a little bit Deon
Lewis e maybe a little bit bigger. I love him, Yeah,
absolutely love him. He was great at the Senior Bowl.
He's got that jump cut ability to just make guys
(08:45):
missing the hole and just there's just evidence of him
just making guys flat out with.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
You know, watching him in the Senior Bowl. He had
one where it was like a ninety degree cut. It
was like he just stopped and then he was going
right Like.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Believe it or not.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I watched him play for two lane, and the guy
is incredible. It's not the most Uh, it's not the
most talented team. And I watched them play against teams
that I thought were more skilled. Central Florida a little bit.
It I think Houston, maybe Cincinnati, I'm not sure if
I saw saw that one, but Central Florida definitely. And
(09:23):
he just carries. He carries the offense. He's a small guy,
but he can catch passes. Uh. He'd be the guy
that I would look for, you know, in the middle,
somewhere in the middle of the draft. If you could
get him in the fourth round, might be, might be.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
A little so last year, that was when the running
on running backs happened, was in the fourth rounds when
the Patriots drafted Pierre Strong and Damon Pierce in Houston.
Like that's when that whole run started, and I think
a guy like Spears is probably gonna be the first
one in that that run. I think Roshawan Johnson from
Texas to is Beijon's backup, has a lot of the
(09:57):
same running qualities as Bijeon. He just doesn't bring it
in the passing game like Bejon does, so he's somebody
that if they wanted to truly replace Damien Harris's skill
set in the offense. I think Johnson has also a
chance to be a better pro because he's gonna get
more opportunities as a bro. And then there's a couple
of other guys later, But those are the two guys
that I would say in those in the fourth round
(10:18):
when there's that run at running backs like there seems
to be every draft now, Spears, Roshan Johnson, I think
those guys are are guys that stand out.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
I really. I think fourth round, fifth round is a
sweet spot just you know, get good value there. Eric
Gray and Kenny McIntosh McIntosh McIntosh the really stick out
to me. Yeah. McIntosh. The thing with him is he
was stuck behind a lot of stars at Georgia, so
I think there's a lot of untapped potential there and
Eric Gray Boomer sooner, you know, just very clean out
of the backfield. Icy can catch the ball, and I
(10:47):
really think that's what the Patriots need back there.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I think that's what I look at at look at
is you know, guys who have some receiving ability. Is
as much as you know, Tome Montgomery coming back seem like,
you know, maybe was penciled into that role for last year,
played one game, got hurt, you know, never really saw
it out of Pierre Strong. Seemed almost more you know,
like Pierre Strong's more of a runner than that.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
That pass catcher we thought he might be.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
But I gotta throw Duce induce Vaughan. Right, Yeah, but
similar thing, you know, an undersize, kind of explosive, dynamic
little toy to play with.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I don't know if they're willing to invest in that.
At what point you've had JJ Taylor here for a while,
he hasn't really been able to so.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
At least shows to me that like they're not totally
averse to looking at a little guy like that. But
I also wonder is this just kind of a roster
presence to prepare them for certain backs things like that?
Does that does that kind of play really have a
role within the offense. I don't know, but at least
I know it's kind of on their radar.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
Kind of with Evan, either you get Gibbs or you
just wait to the late round.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the two guys I want you guys
just mentioned Gray and Duce, so were the next two guys.
I think kind of that next tier. Eric Gray is
a really fun player, really quick, really agile. He's got
that ability to just jump cut out of things, but
also has I think at the top of the route
is going to be a devastating guy at the top
(11:59):
to stay with for linebackers in middle of the field
players and then Deuce darren Sprolls right like that's basically
who he And apparently I said that in our friend
video guy Bradley, I laughed in my face because I
didn't realize that darren Sprolls went to Kansas State. So
he was like, yeah, Evan, no kidding, he's darren Sprolls
(12:21):
two point zero, Like that's literally that's exactly what he is.
Speaker 7 (12:24):
I know, I can hit a yeah, that's why I like, yeah,
and uh, and he was I guess, you know, Duce
fawn I I I talked to him a little bit
at the combine and I mentioned what about the Patriots,
and his face just lit up because he was like,
that's a place that I know would know exactly how
to use me, like James White, Dion Lewis, Danny Woodhead, Kevin.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Falk, like go right on down the line. And he
felt like that would just be a perfect fit for him.
So that one's almost too obvious that maybe it won't happen.
But duce Vaughn with a Day three pick feels like
a slam dunk fear of the pate.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yeah, I would agree with the past catching ability that
that's what would stand out to me. Deuce Vaughan absolutely
has it. Electric player, really small like five to five,
like really really small guy. I'll give you two other
Day three kind of guys TCU Kendre Miller and Minnesota's
Mohammed Ibrahim. He you know, Ibrahim is a guy who
(13:23):
was really productive in the Big Ten for a while.
I had some injury problems. Kind of worry sometimes I
don't have the exact numbers in front of me, But
sometimes the guys that have a lot of carries in
college don't always translate. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
But we're talking day three picks, not anybody that you're
like looking at. Oh, if we can get out of
(13:43):
this draft and get Kendre Miller like you, No, no, no,
we're talking about later on.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I like Travis Daye out of USC is a late,
late round guy, you know, downhill runner.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
Another receiver had a bad injury ankle injury last year
in the fall season, and he was at the Shrine
with the Patriots, Travis Dye, and I was looking forward
to seeing him practice, and unfortunately the ankle is really
bad ankle injury, like one of those like Gordon Hayward
type injuries. So hopefully he's gonna be okay and we'll
(14:15):
be back to his normal self because he's a perfect
pass catching third down.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
Back for the Patriot.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I just out there too. I know you lak him.
Speaker 6 (14:25):
Evan Hol's got a little bit of James White in them.
He's got He's not necessarily the fastest guy. I don't
think he's gonna necessarily blow anybody away with his just
overall athleticism, but he's got that little quickness at the
top of the route to get open. He's got some
good feel of the passing game, so a.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Lot of different kinds of running backs. I think that
the group here is more focused on some of the
more versatile guys that can catch catch passes and maybe
work in the passing game. I think that was an
element that was lacking a little bit, even though Stevenson
caught so many passes last year. I think that maybe
they might might have wanted that going in that three
down back, that they didn't have to dictate based on
(15:04):
personnel what they were going to do. But then I
think when you see it in practice, you see the workload.
I felt like that really caught up with Ramondre Stevenson
down the end. I think he ended up with almost
seventy catches, So it's not like he wasn't productive. He
was really really good. But I think if you had
to do it over again, I think Bill Belichick would
look and say, maybe the way we have been doing
it is the more more preferred route.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
I think you could just get a sense of how
they feel about some of these unproven guys too. You know,
if I not to say, I think you take somebody
like Gibbs, look, he's that'd be different player. But as
we get into like you know, or are they third round,
fourth round? Are they getting a guy that you might
expect to come in and play immediately?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
It might, you know, reflect a little bit on how
I would strong hair.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
It'll make a good conversation come this Saturday or the
draft when when Paul's out of gasps and you know,
I'm hoping it's running backs because it's a position that
I can at least speak intelligently on and not necessarily the.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
String guard.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
I hope they draft Uce. I really do.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Oh, I would love that obviously.
Speaker 7 (16:05):
Yeah, right now he gets college hockey player drafted in
the end.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
How many times joke to him and he's looked at
me like I had ten heads.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I'm sorry, what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (16:16):
And he's like what.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Because I started talking, Like what's he talking about? That's
the first time I played into it. So we're getting
it down.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
If they draft a guy like us von though, I
think it's exciting, even if it's later on in the draft.
It's somebody that you go watch him against Alabama and
he houses that seventy five yard touchdown in the Sugar
Bowl and you're like, okay, cool, Like this is a
fun player, and I think that that's going to be
something that people will will be excited about.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I do all right, So running backs not always my
favorite position, but definitely one of my preferred spots to
talk about come draft time because of exactly what even't
talked about, the electricity that comes with uh some of
these guys in the big playability that they might bring
to the table. So that's going to put an end
to the offensive portion of our podcast. And now, just
(17:01):
to give everybody a little bit of a heads up,
I know everybody's always listening to our draft podcasts, right,
we will have one more just ahead of the draft
where we'll sort of wrap it all up. We'll tie
things together and I'll put the guys on the spot
and have them come up with some first round picks
for the Patriots and the positions of need and all that.
(17:22):
So we'll tie that all together. Thanks for listening to
all of our position podcasts though, and we'll see you
for that wrap up next week.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
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Speaker 2 (00:04):
Welcome to an NFL draft.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The Draft Prospect Review podcast is your source for all
the latest news and information on the NFL Draft.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The New England Patriots like now.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Here to preview the running backs the writers of Patriots
dot Com.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Back here at Jillett Stadium front of the Draft Podcast Review.
We're going to talk about running backs today, a little
bit more of a glamour position, although not first round
glamour if you want to go by the recent NFL
draft history. But there are some guys in this draft,
one in particular, that's getting a lot of buzz around
New England, and running back is always one of those
(00:40):
polarizing positions. Don't say that too fast, you pop your
p's and sound silly, but b Jon Robinson out of
Texas is a guy that a lot of people really
I haven't really heard anybody who's not very high in
this prospect. The the debate comes with if you take him,
(01:03):
how early do you take him and how much of
an impact does he have on your team? And some people,
some of the higher profile draft knicks, have mocked him
to the Patriots at fourteen, so I want to talk
about Jon Robinson. First, I'll let you guys go at it,
and then I want to talk about realistic everybody else expectations.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
For the Patriots. So let's talk about Jon Robinson.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Well, I think a lot of us were just, you know,
surprised to see people mocking him to the Patriots. I
mean it's a mocker, Yeah, it's a mockery. But he's
you know, he's an outstanding player. So when you say,
just generally, what does the Patriots offense need? I think
they need playmakers, They need guys who can do special things.
I don't think they have, you know, any of those
guys really right now. So in that regard, I guess
I understand it. But I think you're just going to
get to the point in the draft where someone will
(01:46):
take him mid first round, late first round, somewhere and there,
and everyone will be like, well, they got to steal,
They got to steal because they were willing to get.
You know, what will actually look like on the field,
How reliant on that player will they become? Will they
become you know the Giants with Saiquan Will they become
the Derrick Henry Kunt of dependent Titans? We'll see, but
I think he'll he'll make a really great addition to
some team and he'll have an impact, He'll change the
(02:07):
dynamic of an offense somewhere along that line.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
I mean, he's a beast, but do you really need him, Like,
you don't end up in a situation where you have
the fifth year option and you're stuck with this great player,
but you know he kind of hampered your future with him.
But I mean, as Mike said, he'd be great anywhere
he goes.
Speaker 6 (02:23):
So yeah, I just don't think the Patriots are in
a position to make a pick like this. If this
was the Dynasty era of Patriots and Tom Brady was
still here and they still had the roster all figured
out and everything, and they wanted to add Bejon Robinson
as the cherry on top to everything else, then that's fantastic.
I would be all for it. It's similar to how
the Niners traded for Christian McCaffrey. Right, they have everything else,
(02:45):
but they just needed that one more thing to kind
of get them over the top, so they went out
and got McCaffrey. The Patriots have too many immediate holes
at other positions on this roster that we've talked about
at nauseum for six months. It feels like now that
it just doesn't make make much sense from a positional
value standpoint to take Bejon. I would also have mentioned
you mentioned Derrick Henry's Titans. I think that's the model
(03:08):
of what you maybe hope to become if you're gonna
center it all around and running back, and is that
really is that really the direction that we all want
them to take the team in, and all want them
to take the offense in where you're so heavily reliant
on the running back being dominant and running for two
thousand yards and then making your play action passing game ridiculous,
(03:30):
and all these types of things that went into those
Titans teams.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
I just I just can't help but imagine, like what
he would do with the Bills. You know, a team
that hasn't really looked interested in running the ball, hasn't
been all of a sudden, they've got a running game
that's gonna that would totally change their dynamic. So in
a team like that, he's a great fit and I
and it makes total sense to him.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
See I look at him as the way Evan said
with McCaffrey you know that team that has one missing
piece and whether that's a if that's a running back,
then then find and I can. This is one of
those where like I often sort of clap back against
the uh, well, he wouldn't have been he wouldn't have
(04:07):
worked for the Patriots. But this is one that I
think is accurate in that regard. I think he'd be
a really good player no matter where he goes. We
all just you know, I agree with everything you guys
just said. But for the Patriots, they need more than
just another you know, running back. They need a lot
of stuff to get more dynamic on offense. And another
team might get him and it might put him over
(04:29):
the top, whether it's Buffalo. I mean, I think they
kind of want to turn it over to James Cook
and have Damian Harris be there a little short yardage
guy and maybe be more productive in the red zone.
But you know, if he goes to like a Kansas City,
it gives him a different dimension. And I could see
it now I can hear like my boys on my shows,
you know, the Patriots couldn't used a guy like that
(04:50):
or whatever. It's not the same. It's not the same.
I think a really good offense that's looking for one piece.
Corey Dillon in right, you know, like it works, but
I don't think it's necessarily gonna have the same impact.
I think you'd be a great player for the Patriots
with vermondre Stevenson. Don't think it would have the same impact.
(05:12):
I'd rather see if they're gonna go for a back
Jamiir Gibbs, I think a little bit later, you know, now,
maybe he doesn't go that much later. Maybe he's a
first round pick too and you.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Can't get him.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
But I think if you're going to get a running back,
you know me, you know my feelings on running backs
in general, do that on your own.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I love Gibbs. I think he's such a player. You
have to keep in mind. You know, we talk so
much about.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Say Flowers and you know, slot guys just match up pieces,
and you know, he's a running back. Yeah, but I
also think with Bill O'Brien, knowing what he can do,
he's a matchup piece too, and maybe, you know, maybe
more versatile than like a James White could be, but
could be not that they want a three down running back,
but could be you know, that kind of player that
could impact the game in so many different ways that
he could play with So with Gibbs, for me, that's
(05:53):
what's most intriguing of all.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right, Hey, we didn't get one of the top slot receivers.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
You know, if you can't get Save Flowers, is it
really do you really go down to like the Josh
Downs of the world, or do you consider somebody like Gibbs.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I think that's a conversation.
Speaker 6 (06:03):
So let me just set you guys up.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Wont to set the table for you guys and let
it rip for you know, the next five minutes or so.
That's the high end running backs that are available. I
think we all agree, really good players, probably not the
smartest picks for the Patriots at fourteen. So we remindri
Stevenson year three, he's the guy. They clearly need some
help for him. Last year we saw him wear down
(06:26):
toward the end when Damien Harris wasn't available. They need
to replace Damien Harris. They have James Robinson, some sketchy
injury history there, so not necessarily a guy that you
rely on. They have two young guys and Kevin Harris
and Pierre Strong. Okay, running back is probably a secondary need.
Can we all agree on that. Yep, yes, okay, So
(06:48):
how early are you guys willing to take a running
back and then give me some examples of guys that
maybe catch your eye. I have one guy who I
absolutely love. I'll save him if you guys don't mention hum.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
So, I think I've had one rule about running back
sinceays Bijon stuff came out, and that is it just
can't be the first pick in the draft. I can't
stomach that. If they take a running back with the
first pick in the draft, I'm out. Now. If they
take Jamiir Gibbs with their second pick in the draft,
then I'm okay with that. But I actually think that
(07:17):
there's a slight chance. I'm not saying it's a high chance.
I think there's a slight chance that Jamiir Gibbs the
first running back off the board because his ability in
the passing game and his speed. He's just a different
kind of back than Bijon Robinson. Robinson's the type of guy.
He's a Derrick Henry. He's gonna have to carry the
ball three hundred times a year to really maximize his impact,
(07:39):
whereas a guy like Jamiir Gibbs is kind of like
what Mike was talking about is just a matchup weapon
that you find space for him, and he's gonna make
big plays happen. A little bit more of a twenty
twenty three running back than Bijon is And I think
there's a chance at a team that is very, very
pass heavy, like a Kansas City or like Cincinnati, or
(08:01):
like a Buffalo that doesn't necessarily look at their roster
and say we're going to run it fifty to fifty,
We're going to try to throw it still. I could
see Gibbs being that type of guy. He's got one
of the best. You know, he he goes zero to
sixty faster than anybody I've seen in a long time.
You know, he's got that ability to just put his
foot in the ground and go. Now, if you want
to talk about the other running backs, I think there's
(08:23):
a couple that that stand out in that middle round area,
you know, maybe the third to the fifth let's call
it uh Taji Spears from Tulane's a fun player. I
think he's just I think he's a little bit Deon
Lewis e maybe a little bit bigger. I love him, Yeah,
absolutely love him. He was great at the Senior Bowl.
He's got that jump cut ability to just make guys
(08:45):
missing the hole and just there's just evidence of him
just making guys flat out with.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
You know, watching him in the Senior Bowl. He had
one where it was like a ninety degree cut. It
was like he just stopped and then he was going
right Like.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Believe it or not.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I watched him play for two lane, and the guy
is incredible. It's not the most Uh, it's not the
most talented team. And I watched them play against teams
that I thought were more skilled. Central Florida a little bit.
It I think Houston, maybe Cincinnati, I'm not sure if
I saw saw that one, but Central Florida definitely. And
(09:23):
he just carries. He carries the offense. He's a small guy,
but he can catch passes. Uh. He'd be the guy
that I would look for, you know, in the middle,
somewhere in the middle of the draft. If you could
get him in the fourth round, might be, might be.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
A little so last year, that was when the running
on running backs happened, was in the fourth rounds when
the Patriots drafted Pierre Strong and Damon Pierce in Houston.
Like that's when that whole run started, and I think
a guy like Spears is probably gonna be the first
one in that that run. I think Roshawan Johnson from
Texas to is Beijon's backup, has a lot of the
(09:57):
same running qualities as Bijeon. He just doesn't bring it
in the passing game like Bejon does, so he's somebody
that if they wanted to truly replace Damien Harris's skill
set in the offense. I think Johnson has also a
chance to be a better pro because he's gonna get
more opportunities as a bro. And then there's a couple
of other guys later, But those are the two guys
that I would say in those in the fourth round
(10:18):
when there's that run at running backs like there seems
to be every draft now, Spears, Roshan Johnson, I think
those guys are are guys that stand out.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
I really. I think fourth round, fifth round is a
sweet spot just you know, get good value there. Eric
Gray and Kenny McIntosh McIntosh McIntosh the really stick out
to me. Yeah. McIntosh. The thing with him is he
was stuck behind a lot of stars at Georgia, so
I think there's a lot of untapped potential there and
Eric Gray Boomer sooner, you know, just very clean out
of the backfield. Icy can catch the ball, and I
(10:47):
really think that's what the Patriots need back there.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I think that's what I look at at look at
is you know, guys who have some receiving ability. Is
as much as you know, Tome Montgomery coming back seem like,
you know, maybe was penciled into that role for last year,
played one game, got hurt, you know, never really saw
it out of Pierre Strong. Seemed almost more you know,
like Pierre Strong's more of a runner than that.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
That pass catcher we thought he might be.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
But I gotta throw Duce induce Vaughan. Right, Yeah, but
similar thing, you know, an undersize, kind of explosive, dynamic
little toy to play with.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I don't know if they're willing to invest in that.
At what point you've had JJ Taylor here for a while,
he hasn't really been able to so.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
At least shows to me that like they're not totally
averse to looking at a little guy like that. But
I also wonder is this just kind of a roster
presence to prepare them for certain backs things like that?
Does that does that kind of play really have a
role within the offense. I don't know, but at least
I know it's kind of on their radar.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
Kind of with Evan, either you get Gibbs or you
just wait to the late round.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the two guys I want you guys
just mentioned Gray and Duce, so were the next two guys.
I think kind of that next tier. Eric Gray is
a really fun player, really quick, really agile. He's got
that ability to just jump cut out of things, but
also has I think at the top of the route
is going to be a devastating guy at the top
(11:59):
to stay with for linebackers in middle of the field
players and then Deuce darren Sprolls right like that's basically
who he And apparently I said that in our friend
video guy Bradley, I laughed in my face because I
didn't realize that darren Sprolls went to Kansas State. So
he was like, yeah, Evan, no kidding, he's darren Sprolls
(12:21):
two point zero, Like that's literally that's exactly what he is.
Speaker 7 (12:24):
I know, I can hit a yeah, that's why I like, yeah,
and uh, and he was I guess, you know, Duce
fawn I I I talked to him a little bit
at the combine and I mentioned what about the Patriots,
and his face just lit up because he was like,
that's a place that I know would know exactly how
to use me, like James White, Dion Lewis, Danny Woodhead, Kevin.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Falk, like go right on down the line. And he
felt like that would just be a perfect fit for him.
So that one's almost too obvious that maybe it won't happen.
But duce Vaughn with a Day three pick feels like
a slam dunk fear of the pate.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yeah, I would agree with the past catching ability that
that's what would stand out to me. Deuce Vaughan absolutely
has it. Electric player, really small like five to five,
like really really small guy. I'll give you two other
Day three kind of guys TCU Kendre Miller and Minnesota's
Mohammed Ibrahim. He you know, Ibrahim is a guy who
(13:23):
was really productive in the Big Ten for a while.
I had some injury problems. Kind of worry sometimes I
don't have the exact numbers in front of me, But
sometimes the guys that have a lot of carries in
college don't always translate. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
But we're talking day three picks, not anybody that you're
like looking at. Oh, if we can get out of
(13:43):
this draft and get Kendre Miller like you, No, no, no,
we're talking about later on.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I like Travis Daye out of USC is a late,
late round guy, you know, downhill runner.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
Another receiver had a bad injury ankle injury last year
in the fall season, and he was at the Shrine
with the Patriots, Travis Dye, and I was looking forward
to seeing him practice, and unfortunately the ankle is really
bad ankle injury, like one of those like Gordon Hayward
type injuries. So hopefully he's gonna be okay and we'll
(14:15):
be back to his normal self because he's a perfect
pass catching third down.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
Back for the Patriot.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I just out there too. I know you lak him.
Speaker 6 (14:25):
Evan Hol's got a little bit of James White in them.
He's got He's not necessarily the fastest guy. I don't
think he's gonna necessarily blow anybody away with his just
overall athleticism, but he's got that little quickness at the
top of the route to get open. He's got some
good feel of the passing game, so a.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Lot of different kinds of running backs. I think that
the group here is more focused on some of the
more versatile guys that can catch catch passes and maybe
work in the passing game. I think that was an
element that was lacking a little bit, even though Stevenson
caught so many passes last year. I think that maybe
they might might have wanted that going in that three
down back, that they didn't have to dictate based on
(15:04):
personnel what they were going to do. But then I
think when you see it in practice, you see the workload.
I felt like that really caught up with Ramondre Stevenson
down the end. I think he ended up with almost
seventy catches, So it's not like he wasn't productive. He
was really really good. But I think if you had
to do it over again, I think Bill Belichick would
look and say, maybe the way we have been doing
it is the more more preferred route.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
I think you could just get a sense of how
they feel about some of these unproven guys too. You know,
if I not to say, I think you take somebody
like Gibbs, look, he's that'd be different player. But as
we get into like you know, or are they third round,
fourth round? Are they getting a guy that you might
expect to come in and play immediately?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
It might, you know, reflect a little bit on how
I would strong hair.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
It'll make a good conversation come this Saturday or the
draft when when Paul's out of gasps and you know,
I'm hoping it's running backs because it's a position that
I can at least speak intelligently on and not necessarily the.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
String guard.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
I hope they draft Uce. I really do.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Oh, I would love that obviously.
Speaker 7 (16:05):
Yeah, right now he gets college hockey player drafted in
the end.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
How many times joke to him and he's looked at
me like I had ten heads.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I'm sorry, what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (16:16):
And he's like what.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Because I started talking, Like what's he talking about? That's
the first time I played into it. So we're getting
it down.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
If they draft a guy like us von though, I
think it's exciting, even if it's later on in the draft.
It's somebody that you go watch him against Alabama and
he houses that seventy five yard touchdown in the Sugar
Bowl and you're like, okay, cool, Like this is a
fun player, and I think that that's going to be
something that people will will be excited about.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I do all right, So running backs not always my
favorite position, but definitely one of my preferred spots to
talk about come draft time because of exactly what even't
talked about, the electricity that comes with uh some of
these guys in the big playability that they might bring
to the table. So that's going to put an end
to the offensive portion of our podcast. And now, just
(17:01):
to give everybody a little bit of a heads up,
I know everybody's always listening to our draft podcasts, right,
we will have one more just ahead of the draft
where we'll sort of wrap it all up. We'll tie
things together and I'll put the guys on the spot
and have them come up with some first round picks
for the Patriots and the positions of need and all that.
(17:22):
So we'll tie that all together. Thanks for listening to
all of our position podcasts though, and we'll see you
for that wrap up next week.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
Thank you for downloading this podcast. Subscribe on Apple, Google Play,
and everywhere else you listen. Like the show, Please rate
and review us. Listener comments and ratings help keep us
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Be sure to check patriots dot com for more news
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