Todd McShay

You've got Omari and Hampton, who, by the way, I talked to people in the league who were like, it's a debate in our room between Ashton Jinty and Hampton. So Hampton taking advantage of the fact that Jinty's not working out. I mean, all of these guys, it felt like worked out. And the vast majority were like, you're like blowing your mind with some of the numbers.

You've got Omari and Hampton, who, by the way, I talked to people in the league who were like, it's a debate in our room between Ashton Jinty and Hampton. So Hampton taking advantage of the fact that Jinty's not working out. I mean, all of these guys, it felt like worked out. And the vast majority were like, you're like blowing your mind with some of the numbers.

You know, this group was the fastest in the history of the combine at the running back position. They averaged four, four, eight in the 40. It's just, it was, it was amazing, an amazing sight to see.

You know, this group was the fastest in the history of the combine at the running back position. They averaged four, four, eight in the 40. It's just, it was, it was amazing, an amazing sight to see.

You know, this group was the fastest in the history of the combine at the running back position. They averaged four, four, eight in the 40. It's just, it was, it was amazing, an amazing sight to see.

I think it's a couple of things. And I've said this for over a decade now at running back. Like, I think sometimes when it's just not a good running back class, we love to just dive right back into that conversation. Like the NFL doesn't put value on running back. Right. And so part of it is just talent. Like in 2017, it was the thick of it, like moving away from running backs.

I think it's a couple of things. And I've said this for over a decade now at running back. Like, I think sometimes when it's just not a good running back class, we love to just dive right back into that conversation. Like the NFL doesn't put value on running back. Right. And so part of it is just talent. Like in 2017, it was the thick of it, like moving away from running backs.

I think it's a couple of things. And I've said this for over a decade now at running back. Like, I think sometimes when it's just not a good running back class, we love to just dive right back into that conversation. Like the NFL doesn't put value on running back. Right. And so part of it is just talent. Like in 2017, it was the thick of it, like moving away from running backs.

The league is a more pass-friendly. But there were, I think, was it 26, 28 guys drafted that year, starting with Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey? You go back and look at that class, it's phenomenal. And so when the talent's there, they're going to be taken. But there were like eight or nine standout running backs in the NFL, like guys that made huge impacts that came from that class.

The league is a more pass-friendly. But there were, I think, was it 26, 28 guys drafted that year, starting with Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey? You go back and look at that class, it's phenomenal. And so when the talent's there, they're going to be taken. But there were like eight or nine standout running backs in the NFL, like guys that made huge impacts that came from that class.

The league is a more pass-friendly. But there were, I think, was it 26, 28 guys drafted that year, starting with Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey? You go back and look at that class, it's phenomenal. And so when the talent's there, they're going to be taken. But there were like eight or nine standout running backs in the NFL, like guys that made huge impacts that came from that class.

Only two of them went in the first round. So there's always a premium that you place on premium picks at premium positions, okay? You're always going to say, well, quarterback, pass rusher, left tackle, right? Those are always going to be the – and then cornerback right behind it, right? So it's going to lead to running backs getting pushed back.

Only two of them went in the first round. So there's always a premium that you place on premium picks at premium positions, okay? You're always going to say, well, quarterback, pass rusher, left tackle, right? Those are always going to be the – and then cornerback right behind it, right? So it's going to lead to running backs getting pushed back.

Only two of them went in the first round. So there's always a premium that you place on premium picks at premium positions, okay? You're always going to say, well, quarterback, pass rusher, left tackle, right? Those are always going to be the – and then cornerback right behind it, right? So it's going to lead to running backs getting pushed back.

But if the talent's there, you get in the second, third, fourth round, they're going to start flying off the board, and that's what's going to happen this year. I do think this. Remember the old – we used to mess around with Kuyper about the quote he had that the league should ban cover two? I mean, just the absurdity of it. But the point was not to defend my guy, Mel.

But if the talent's there, you get in the second, third, fourth round, they're going to start flying off the board, and that's what's going to happen this year. I do think this. Remember the old – we used to mess around with Kuyper about the quote he had that the league should ban cover two? I mean, just the absurdity of it. But the point was not to defend my guy, Mel.

But if the talent's there, you get in the second, third, fourth round, they're going to start flying off the board, and that's what's going to happen this year. I do think this. Remember the old – we used to mess around with Kuyper about the quote he had that the league should ban cover two? I mean, just the absurdity of it. But the point was not to defend my guy, Mel.

The point was I'm watching tape now and everyone's running a version of cover two and it's the percentages have increased. And so when you have two safeties back, it makes it very difficult to take deep shots. So what's the counter to that? The counter is you got some creases now in the run game. You don't have boxes that are as loaded up with defenders. And so we better get a talented guy.

The point was I'm watching tape now and everyone's running a version of cover two and it's the percentages have increased. And so when you have two safeties back, it makes it very difficult to take deep shots. So what's the counter to that? The counter is you got some creases now in the run game. You don't have boxes that are as loaded up with defenders. And so we better get a talented guy.

The point was I'm watching tape now and everyone's running a version of cover two and it's the percentages have increased. And so when you have two safeties back, it makes it very difficult to take deep shots. So what's the counter to that? The counter is you got some creases now in the run game. You don't have boxes that are as loaded up with defenders. And so we better get a talented guy.