2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: RB

Best fit for these #NFLDraft RB prospects?

Path to the Draft plays matchmaker. 👀 pic.twitter.com/kacXS0JLlI

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 7, 2025

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is legit.
One of the more explosive backs in the class. Excellent vision.

Very curious where he goes in draft. Talent says day 2 all day. He’s going on 24 and played in 1 game this season, so that could affect where he is selected. Very skilled RB. pic.twitter.com/2edVntMDHv

— The GOAT House (@GoatHouseNFL) April 8, 2025

RJ Harvey was so good at creating a lane for an explosive play by manipulating LB/DB angles with subtle set-up jabs as he approached the line.

Burst + feel for space = More explosive runs than even Ashton Jeanty (2023-24)

Will it translate vs. NFL defense? https://t.co/3rlDFcEKF2 pic.twitter.com/Kce7x2ikDV

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 10, 2025

Chunky

Valuing running backs highly is back in style — and UNC’s Omarion Hampton is finally getting buzz publicly. That buzz is very real inside NFL circles, too. https://t.co/gFk6AWtNxi pic.twitter.com/6MP7TW0dnl

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 10, 2025

RB1b

JustInTime wrote:
RB1b

You really think he's that close to Jeanty? Man, I don't see that. Love his size, speed and contact balance, but I think of him as right in that 2nd tier jumble with the Buckeye backs. Jeanty is in a class of his own IMO.

MaroonBells wrote:

You really think he's that close to Jeanty? Man, I don't see that. Love his size, speed and contact balance, but I think of him as right in that 2nd tier jumble with the Buckeye backs. Jeanty is in a class of his own IMO.

It’s a small b. 

Level of competition and size. Penn State made Jeanty look ordinary. It’s pretty sparse on this hill, but yeah I’m dying on it.

JustInTime wrote:

It’s a small b. 

Level of competition and size. Penn State made Jeanty look ordinary. It’s pretty sparse on this hill, but yeah I’m dying on it.

I'll visit your grave on holidays. :-) Penn State had a top 10 defense and sold out to stop Jeanty. He still ran for over 100. And I think level of competition is much less of a factor for RBs than any other position (Payton, Faulk, Tomlinson, Dickerson, Ekeler). It's a two-way street too. Jeanty didn't have Power 5 blockers in front of him.

Sources: Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson visited the #Cowboys, #Bengals and #Panthers — and has had several Zoom meetings with other teams as well.

Touted for his electric running style and elite pass protection skills, Henderson is, according to an NFL personnel director:… pic.twitter.com/Jj0sy5Dq0W

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 11, 2025

I have zero issue sticking at 24 and grabbing him. This is as close as you’ll get to Gibbs this year. Ease him in or just go with the hot hand out of the 3 in 2025.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/schultz_report/status/1910786007936405992?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

I have zero issue sticking at 24 and grabbing him. This is as close as you’ll get to Gibbs this year. Ease him in or just go with the hot hand out of the 3 in 2025.

IDK, this guy fumbled back when he was a freshman…!  :cool: :angel:

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/schultz_report/status/1910786007936405992?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ I have zero issue sticking at 24 and grabbing him. This is as close as you’ll get to Gibbs this year. Ease him in or just go with the hot hand out of the 3 in 2025.

In the immortal words of Wetlander...

boom

“One of the most exciting players in the draft and a very clean prospect. Home run threat every touch who can hurt you lining up out wide. Very dangerous in space. Multiple Pro Bowl caliber talent.”

Holy shit...I think we are all on the same page on the same player. Someone call Kwesi and get the card ready

UCF RB RJ Harvey

pic.twitter.com/M7rqYafRTV

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) April 11, 2025

This is pretty special too.

supafreak84 wrote:
Holy shit...I think we are all on the same page on the same player. Someone call Kwesi and get the card ready

Nobody would be more excited than JJM...

From @SportsCenter: This years RB class is the deepest group since 2017. With @HannahStormESPN, a few of my favorite team fits and where they could be picked.

• TreVeyon Henderson ➡️Commanders
• Quinshon Judkins➡️Cowboys
• Kaleb Johnson➡️49ers pic.twitter.com/UB5Hdkzweh

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) April 13, 2025

Some RBs saw their avoided tackle rate drop dramatically when comparing splits vs. Power 4 and non Power 4 schools:

🔻Quinshon Judkins (these are all career stats)
40% vs. Non P4
24% vs. Power-4

🔻Devin Neal
32% vs. Non P4
21% vs. Power-4

RB class average
31% vs. Non P4
24%… https://t.co/8tHTMVnbK6

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 14, 2025

You better look out when Omarion Hampton gets goin' 💪@OmarionHampton | @UNCFootball

📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/MgkiFEfYNR

— NFL (@NFL) April 14, 2025

So....Cam Skattebo

When I first watched Skattebo back in January, my first thought was Toby Gerhardt. Really productive college player whose skillset just doesn’t translate to the NFL. Forget his combine forty, you can see his lack of speed on nearly every play. I thought of him in a tier below the Buckeyes, Harvey, Kaleb Johnson, Tuten, and Martinez. 3rd round at best, but probably day three. 

I’m starting to re-think that. I still don’t think he’ll ever be a starting back in the NFL, but he does some things really well and nobody in this class runs harder. I don’t think he’s right for us since he offers what we already have in Mason, but I think a team with a good 3-down back already in place could get a lot out of a guy like Skattebo. I think he could be one helluva David Montgomery or Jordan Mason. I think the Bills, Dolphins, Browns and Bengals would be good fits for him.

. @MoveTheSticks believes the league might be lower on Cam Skattebo than draft media

"they're just saying he has no juice. And it's not sustainable to run the way he runs."

DJ is a fan. We all are fans.

Full show: https://t.co/Y8JpEq0iPp pic.twitter.com/YYN28UaiHi

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 16, 2025

A final look at career production vs. athleticism for the 2025 RB class.

All scores are relative to the 2015-2024 classes.

Targets:
🎯 DJ Giddens
🎯 Bhayshul Tuten
🎯 Cam Skattebo

Sleepers:
💤 Lan Larison
💤 Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Lower on:
🚩 Jaydon Blue
🚩 Devin Neal pic.twitter.com/E58Zp3p05R

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) April 16, 2025

Jacory Croskey-Merritt nasty feet & seamless reaccel pic.twitter.com/qwumk874TZ

— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) April 17, 2025