2021 NFL draft: Could a running back be there for the Eagles in the first round?

This is the second of an 11-part series on the 2021 NFL draft where, for the third straight year, Ben Fennell breaks down the draft for The Inquirer. Ben is an Emmy award-winning producer, editor, and researcher across several media platforms, most notably NFL Network and ESPN College Football. This will be his seventh draft for the NFL Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @benfennell_NFL.

Running backs aren’t getting a lot of respect in the draft. Just eight have been taken in the first round the last four years, compared to 13 in the second round, 15 in the third and 23 in the fourth.

Last year, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the first back chosen, taken by the Chiefs with the 32nd and last pick in the first round. A year earlier, the only first-round running back taken was Alabama’s Josh Jacobs, who went 24th to the Raiders.

» READ MORE: 2021 NFL draft: The Eagles won’t take a QB in the first round, but a lot of other teams will

This year? There are three backs who could go in the first round — Alabama’s Najee Harris, Clemson’s Travis Etienne and North Carolina’s Javonte Williams. But it’s likely that at least one and possibly two of those three will slide into the second round. None figure to go in the top 15.

It’s not outside the realm of possibility that the Eagles could take a running back in the first round, though probably not in their current draft position at No. 12. They’ve already traded down once (from 6 to 12). If they trade down again, a running back could come into play.

They have Miles Sanders, who was taken in the second round two years ago. But he isn’t really a between-the-tackles thumper. Jordan Howard, who the Eagles re-signed this week, is that type of back. But he’s played in just 17 games the last two years. Harris and Etienne both would help take the pressure off of quarterback Jalen Hurts and give a boost to an offense that finished 26th in scoring last season.

“If you’re looking for a safe player, there are no players in this draft class safer than Harris and Etienne,” NFL Network draft analyst Ben Fennell said. “You know what you’re getting with them. There is very little variance to their evaluations.”

The dearth of running backs taken high in the draft — just five have been taken in the top 10 in the last eight drafts — has given the impression that the position has been devalued by NFL teams. But that’s not necessarily the case.

» READ MORE: Eagles sign an actual linebacker, Eric Wilson, and bring back Jordan Howard to help Miles Sanders

“This whole conversation of running backs not having value is so misconstrued right now because it has morphed into, well, you shouldn’t draft them high and you shouldn’t pay them,” Fennell said.

“But you should draft the right ones high and you should pay them. Like Saquon Barkley (the second overall pick in 2018) and Christian McCaffrey (eighth pick in 2017) and Alvin Kamara (received a five-year, $75 million contract extension from the Saints last September).”

NFL teams want versatile running backs who can play a significant role in both the run and pass games. Barkley caught 91 passes as a rookie in addition to rushing for 1,307 yards. McCaffrey had 303 receptions his first three seasons in the league. Kamara, a 2017 third-round pick, has caught 80 or more passes in each of his first four seasons.

Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns last year for Alabama, but also caught 43 passes and averaged 9.9 yards per catch. Etienne rushed for nearly 5,000 yards in four years at Clemson, but also caught 48 passes last year.

“Alabama is passionate about getting their running backs the ball in the pass game,” Fennell said. “Etienne improved a lot last year as a pass catcher. He finished with nearly 600 receiving yards.”

» READ MORE: Eagles draft preview: Which Day 2 prospects are being connected to them | Early Birds

The importance of running backs in the passing game is why Fennell divided his running-back ratings into two groups: traditional and “gadget” or third-down running backs.

Alabama

6-2, 230

Hands: 10¼ inches

40 time: n/a

Vertical jump: n/a

225 bench: n/a

Fennell’s take: “In a draft with a lot of question-mark prospects, Harris is as clean on the field and off as you’re going to get. He’s a tall, upright runner, but still has the ability to lower his pads. He’s good between the tackles. Good in the zone game. Can get to the perimeter. He’s creative in the open field. He’s elusive. He’s tough. He rushed for 2,700 yards the last two years and had more than 600 carries at Alabama.

» READ MORE: NFL players union says it doesn’t see a reason to rush back into team facilities this spring

“He’s excellent in pass-pro and very good in the pass game. Harris has just three drops in his career and one in the last 42 games. He was a prolific pass catcher despite not being the prototypical size of that kind of guy. He’s a very interesting style of player who can be productive in a variety of schemes. He’s played against elite competition. He checks every box you would want to check.”

Round projection: 1 (20-32)

North Carolina

5-9, 212

Hands: 9 3/8 inches

40-time: 4.55 seconds

Vertical jump: 36 inches

225 bench: 22 reps

Fennell’s take: “In a draft with not many heavy backs, he’s right there with Harris as far as 220-plus pound runners. He’s a physical, violent runner. He’s a tackle-breaking machine. Not only breaks tackles with bursts and speed, but also with contact balance and violence. He’s a guy who wants to put the ball in his back pocket and fight you. He’s a tone-setter. He will murder defensive backs in the open field. So he’s a guy you want in the screen game. Just get him in space on swing routes, bubbles, things like that, because of his contact-balance, that big butt, that thick lower half. He’s excellent in pass-protection as well. He’s out of the mold of a David Montgomery or a Kareem Hunt.”

Round prediction: 2

Virginia Tech

5-9, 210

Hands: 8½ inches

40-time: 4.46 seconds

Vertical jump: 33 inches

225 bench: 22 reps

Fennell’s take: “He came from a prolific high school program (American Heritage) in Florida. Played with guys like Patrick Surtain, Brian Burns and Marco Wilson and was a high recruit. He spent a couple of years at Kansas, but never really got an opportunity to show off there. Transferred to Virginia Tech and rushed for 1,200 yards and averaged 7.6 yards per carry last year.

“He’s elusive. Has really good contact-balance, really good speed to the perimeter. He was an excellent yards-after-the-catch guy this year for Virginia Tech. Averaged 17.9 yards per catch. He’s a guy whose best football is ahead of him, I think. He’s a little bit raw catching the football. At the Senior Bowl, he got open all the time and then would drop the ball. But if you’re looking for a zone-scheme runner, he’s going to be productive for you. He’s a tough guy who gives you somebody who can bang between the tackles.”

Round projection: 4-5

Memphis

5-11, 201

Hands: 9 7/8 inches

40-time: 4.42 seconds

Vertical jump: 35 inches

225 bench: 21 reps

Fennell’s take: “Gainwell took over the Tony Pollard role in the Memphis offense, which means he was a part-time running back and part-time slot receiver. He was a dual-threat quarterback coming out of high school. He has a ton of wide receiver skills. He can make back-shoulder catches. He can win vertically. He has really good hands and adjustment ability. He’s a really interesting weapon to add to an offense.

“Everybody in the NFL is coveting these pass-catchers out of the backfield. Comps for him would be Pollard, Dion Lewis, even Miles Sanders. Guys who aren’t great running backs, aren’t great slot receivers, but are that matchup weapon everybody is looking for.”

Round projection: 2-3

UCLA

5-9, 189

Hands: 9 3/8 inches

40-time: 4.55 seconds

Vertical jump: 31 ½ inches

225 bench: 10 reps

Fennell’s take: “Felton got a lot of attention down at the Senior Bowl for his route running and pass catching. He was a four-star receiver coming out of high school. He was moved to running back the last two years by Chip Kelly, but was used mostly as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. So he was essentially a slot receiver with home run speed lining up in the backfield. He’s good in the screen game and on angle routes. Very competitive in pass-pro.

“He doesn’t have tons of size or bulk and isn’t a blazer. But we’ve seen a lot of guys in the NFL succeed in that role who weren’t blazers. People like Aaron Jones and Alvin Kamara. You don’t have to run 4.4 to be productive. The way Nyheim Hines was used with the Colts, that’s what everybody is looking for right now. Running backs with great hands and ball skills that can threaten defenses in the pass game. This kid can do that.”

Round projection: 3

Purdue

5-7, 180

Hands: 8¾ inches

40-time: 4.29 seconds

Vertical jump: 45.5 inches

225 bench: n/a

Fennell’s take: “Moore was a slot receiver at Purdue, but I’ve got him as a gadget running back. He’s missed a lot of time the last two years. Played in just three games last year and four the year before. So he’s a little bit off the radar. He was listed at 5-9 at Purdue, but he measured at just 5-7 at his Pro Day. That’s almost unrealistically small to be a receiver. The comps when he was at Purdue and everybody thought he was 5-9 were Tyreek Hill, Percy Harvin, Steve Smith, Deebo Samuel and Randall Cobb. But all of those guys are 5-9, 5-10.

“But he’s very explosive. Ran a 4.29 at his Pro Day. Had an out-of-this-world vertical jump. He’s a physical player. In 2018, he was the Big Ten freshman of the year. He led the country in yards after the catch. This was a running back playing slot receiver. All of his targets were within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

“Even though he played in the slot, he has the playing style, ability, skill-set and traits of a running back. That’s why I think he belongs in the backfield. You also don’t want him facing a lot of press coverage. The big issue with him is injuries. He’s had some hamstring issues and a knee issue.”

Round projection: 3