The long wait for the first running back to be drafted is finally over.
The Carolina Panthers traded Texas running back Jonathan Brooks for six spots on Friday night with the 46th pick in the NFL Draft, making him the second-latest selection for a starting running back.
Brooks could have left sooner, but he tore his ACL late in the season after rushing for 1,139 yards in 11 games.
The only draft where a running back was picked longer was in 2014. Bishop Sankey went to Tennessee at No. 54 that year and was the first draft pick.
In the common draft era that began in 1967, the only time a running back wasn't taken in the first round was two years ago, when Breece Hall was the first to be selected by the New York Jets with the 36th pick.
“I think for us, it's an emphasis on running backs, an emphasis on the running game. Having a player like Jonathan Brooks that we loved and recognized,” Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said. I think he was a player.” … They're valuable to us because we're going to be running the ball. ”
The first running back selected was believed to be able to start at the same position as several other top backs selected in the second and third rounds of the draft. However, it would be another 20 picks before the next running back was chosen, with Florida State's Trey Benson going to Arizona with the second pick in the third round.
The Rams took Michigan State's Blake Collum with the No. 83 pick, and Green Bay took Southern California's Marshawn Lloyd with the No. 88 pick, with two more backs taken later in the third round. The number of backs taken thus far matches the lowest record for the first three rounds of the common draft era, previously set in 2021 and 2016.
“It's hard to think about,” Benson said of the lack of drafted running backs. “I know the position is devalued, but it just means we have a lot of work to do. I know this running back class will turn things around.”
Teams have shied away from using premium picks at running back in recent years as offenses have focused on the passing game and teams have moved away from using bell cowbacks.
There was a brief hiatus last season when Atlanta took Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick and Detroit took Jahmil Gibbs with the No. 12 pick, both of which were taken before the wide receiver.
This year, a record-tying seven wide receivers were taken in the first round, marking the 13th time in the past 14 drafts that more receivers than running backs have gone in the first round (with the only exception being 2018). The first 17 years of the common draft era.
But since the rookie wage system began in 2011, 59 receivers have been taken in the first round compared to 19 running backs.
Brooks believes the league is undervaluing the position.
“The league and the fans are all going to see it this year,” Brooks said. “I agree that a lot of people are going to start showing why we should be held to a higher standard as a running back class and throughout the NFL.”
The league is entering its first season since 1990 without a running back who carried the ball at least 300 times, with Derrick Henry leading the league with 280. That followed a 2023 offseason in which several star running backs were unable to sign lucrative long-term deals as the NFL. Teams will put more resources into the passing game.
