Bucs Draft 2024 Preview + Bucs Best Bets: RBs

Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2024 NFL Draft with its position previews – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Josh Queipo continues the previews with the running back position, giving a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at running back.

Queipo also provides a detailed list of this year’s top running backs while Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds offers up the Bucs draft needs and the annual Pewter Report Bucs’ Best Bets – the most likely running back for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Running Back

The Bucs head into 2024 with most of the running back room they started with in 2023. Third-year runner Rachaad White leads the way after totaling 990 yards on the ground, 1,539 yards from scrimmage, and nine total touchdowns in his first year as a feature back. He really separated himself as a top-three receiving back in the league, catching 64 of his 70 targets for 549 yards and three touchdowns. As a true runner the results were much more mixed with White as he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, down from the 3.7 mark he posted his rookie year. His 2.53 yards after contact per carry was 33rd among qualified runners while he was 18th in the league with 39 missed tackles forced.

Behind White is veteran Chase Edmonds. While White’s running style is that of a glider, Edmonds brings more suddenness and short area quickness. Edmonds’ 5-foot-9 frame limits his role to that of a backup and if White were to succumb to an injury that would force him to miss time, Edmonds may not be the back the Bucs turn to as the primary replacement. Still, Edmonds is a talented, change-of-pace back who averaged 5.0 yards per carry from Week 12 on last year.

Currently holding down the RB3 role is 2023 rookie Sean Tucker. Tucker was an undrafted free agent the Bucs signed shortly after the 2023 NFL Draft. Many draft analysts had a draftable grade on Tucker, who amassed over 3,200 yards and 27 touchdowns over three years at Syracuse.

A heart condition popped up on Tucker’s medicals during the pre-draft process which was the primary driver in him not getting drafted. He received a clean bill of health over the summer and had a limited role last year, carrying the ball 15 times for 23 yards. Bucs general manager Jason Licht said at this year’s NFL Combine that Tucker will need to step up this year.

What The Bucs Need At Running Back

The jury is still out on Rachaad White being a true feature back. He hasn’t broken out as a runner, save for a three-game stretch in the middle of last year, and his most elite trait as a receiver tends to lend itself to more of an RB2 role. The Bucs could really use more of a pure runner for early downs. Someone who can churn out more yards after contact through more of a bulldozing, contact-balance approach.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht may be coveting a larger-framed back, of which there are several potential options who should be available in mid-to-late rounds. That type of runner would have a better shot than Edmonds of taking the lead-back role should the Bucs be without White for any significant stretch of time.

While it may not seem like running back is a pressing need for the Bucs, imagine if White was lost of a stretch of games. It’s doubtful that Chase Edmonds and Sean Tucker could carry the load, and Tampa Bay’s ground game would likely suffer. Don’t be surprised to see the Bucs draft a running back as early as the third round in this year’s draft.

Top Running Backs In The 2024 NFL Draft

1. Texas RB Jonathan Brooks – Redshirt Sophomore – 6-0, 216 – N/A

While there is consensus as to who the top quarterback in this year’s draft is, the same cannot be said for the running back position. You could take the top five players on this list and order them at random. Brooks has received a good amount of hype to potentially be the first off the board somewhere in the back half of the second round. Brooks has an electric first step that he uses to stick and explode out of cuts. He combines this with good vision and a smart running style where he sets up would-be tacklers before brushing by them.

Brooks suffered a torn ACL late in the season that will impact his draft stock, but once he recovers, he should be able to lead an NFL backfield. His career is light on volume stats with just 1,475 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, but that is because he was buried on the depth chart behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson the two years prior to last. But once handed the reins, he shined with 10 touchdowns, 1,135 yards rushing while averaging over six yards per carry.

2. Michigan RB Blake Corum – Redshirt Senior – 5-8, 205 – 4.53

Corum maxes out his smaller frame by removing almost every ounce of potential body fat. The result is a physical specimen that ensures every inch of his body is prepared to pack a punch. Corum isn’t a strong downhill runner, but has good agility and vision. He also has a nose for the end zone as evidenced by 27 touchdowns in 2023 while averaging a touchdown for every 11 carries his final two years at Michigan. He ran for almost 4,000 career yards with back-to-back campaigns over 1,000 yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry for his career.

Corum lacks breakaway speed which will limit his ceiling in the NFL. He also lacks the patience desired of the position and may be lower on the boards of zone-heavy teams that ask a back to allow blocks to develop before they press the line. This over-eagerness also shows up when he is pass protecting as he can commit too soon and miss his target. He has been an almost complete non-factor as a receiver. He more more career rushing touchdowns (58) than he does career catches (56).

3. Florida State RB Trey Benson – Redshirt Junior – 6-0, 216 – 4.39

Despite being a two-year starter, Trey Benson has never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season. He came close in 2022 with 990 yards and followed that up with a 905-yard campaign in 2023. But don’t let that lack of production make you think he isn’t a talented back. The combination of speed and contact balance on his ideal frame make him an intriguing option. He exhibits the patience behind the line of scrimmage, allowing blocks to develop and giving him the full picture of where he can best find yards and the coveted big play. And when the opportunity is there, he can pull off the big runs with sub-4.4 speed.

Benson is far from a perfect prospect though as he had major knee injury (2020) and can run upright which limits his ability to run through contact. Benson also continues the trend of backs in this class who have limited production in the passing game, barely averaging over one catch per game since cracking Florida State’s starting lineup. The bet with Benson will be that the knee injuries are far in the rearview mirror and his big-play potential will pay off at the next level on a frame that can sustain a starter’s workload.

4. Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright – Junior – 5-11, 210 – 4.38

Wright may have a more direct path to starting than other backs ahead of him on this list due to his superior pass protection. As a runner he has track speed as evidenced by his sub-4.4 40-yard dash. Wright has a strong and flexible lower half that allows him to explode through gaps and juke defenders. He prefers to kick the ball outside, something he will not be able to do as much in the NFL. But he was less successful on those carries garnering less than 40% of his yards and runs of 10+ yards on those carries. For him to be more successful at the next level Wright will need to embrace a more inside running style where he generated 546 of his 1,010 yards last year.

Wright had 71 carries of 10+ yards in his career with multiple runs over 80 yards highlighting his explosive ability and capped off his career at Tennessee with an impressive 4.35 yards per carry after contact. He has had ball security issues in the past but improved in 2023 with just one fumble. Wright embraces more of a shifty, avoid-tackles running style that doesn’t always translate to the next level rather than driving into and through contact. That may limit his suitors in the draft and could leave him off the Bucs draft board.

5. USC RB Marshawn Lloyd – Redshirt Junior – 5-9, 220 – 4.46

Marshawn Lloyd has impressive tape but a lack of volume production. He generated half of his 1,621 career yards in 2023 while averaging 7.1 yards per carry and nine touchdowns. Lloyd’s 32% forced missed tackle rate for his career spiked last year at over 40% and over 20% of his runs in 2023 went for 10 or more yards.

He has great burst and explosiveness to stick and go. He combines those qualities with good vision to exploit holes and gain yards with good contact balance and runs through tacklers. Lloyd’s long speed is deceptively good, and he causes defenders to take poor angles that leaves them in his wake. But he wasn’t much of a receiving threat but his efficiency is solid as evidenced by his 72.2% catch rate while averaging almost 18 yards per catch. His pass protection will need to improve to be trusted as a three-down back.

6. Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen – Junior – 6-1, 235 – N/A

Allen was a three-year starter at Wisconsin where he amassed just under 3,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. In his final year he was able to get involved in the passing game more (28 catches) but they didn’t come with much efficiency (only 4.7 yards per catch). While Allen has a large frame and a linebacker-like build, he doesn’t commit to that type of usage. He is a smart runner with good vision and a patient approach. Allen is one of the younger backs in this class, having recently turned 20 but still has more production than some of the redshirt seniors.

Despite his formative age he receives rave reviews for his maturity, character and competitiveness. Allen’s burst is a plus, but he lacks long speed and change-of-direction skills to be considered dynamic. He also has a litany of injuries that have caused him to miss time in each of his college campaigns. Allen lacks a true calling card, elite trait, but is a solid all-around back with good pass protection skills. If he can learn to run like he’s built it may unlock untapped potential. Until then he profiles more as a safety net RB2.

7. Notre Dame RB Audric Estime – Junior – 5-11, 222 – 4.61

Estime is a big, powerful, runner with some of the strongest legs in the class. He uses those legs to generate a ton of torque and launch some highlight-reel hurdles. Estime is coming off of a breakout year where he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scoring 18 touchdowns while accumulating 1,341 rushing yards.

He is a straight-line runner who more curves than cuts when trying to change direction. His 4.61 40-yard time at his pro day quelled some concerns over lack of top-end speed when he ran a 4.75 at the NFL Combine. He is a strong brute-force runner that rarely goes down on first contact. In addition to his lack of change-of-direction abilities he has trouble gearing down and up again, meaning he’s really more of just a bowling ball that continues to build speed as he rolls down the lane. That also means Estime profiles more to a power scheme rather than a two-dimensional zone scheme.

8. Oregon RB Bucky Irving – Junior – 5-9, 192 – 4.55

Irving is one of the smaller, and more effective pass-catchers, in this year’s draft. His 56 catches, 413 receiving yards and two touchdowns were the result of reliable hands and a talented ability to work in space after the catch. At his size, his 40-yard dash is a concern, but he plays faster than he times. But he is explosive in space with great burst and good feel for corrupting defensive angles. Irving’s vision is lacking but he has surprisingly good contact balance for his size.

Irving has a tendency to unnecessarily slow himself down at the outset of runs, relying too much on his burst to save him. That won’t translate well to the next level. Irving’s best path to success in the NFL would be as a third down receiving back, where his pass-catching skills and willingness as a blocker will help him maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses.

9. Kentucky RB Ray Davis – Redshirt Senior – 5-8, 211 – 4.52

Davis totaled 197 carries for 1,131 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first and only season at Kentucky. He added 32 catches for 324 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. He forced 51 missed tackles (25.9%) which was a consistent rate across his four-year collegiate career. Thirty-one of his carries went for 10 or more yards. For his size, he has good short area burst and acceleration. Davis uses his frame well to absorb would-be tacklers while continuing to move forward.

Davis operates well as a one-cut back and that sticks his foot in the ground and then gets vertical with haste. Over his first four years in college at Temple, and later Vanderbilt, Davis worked in zone-heavy systems. With Kentucky last year Davis ran gap at almost a two-to-one ratio versus zone runs. Davis’ footwork is a plus for his size and helps him keep good contact balance. And while his long speed is not a plus, he is quite adept at getting 10-to-25 yards in chunks.

10. Clemson RB Will Shipley – Junior – 5-11, 206 – 4.45

Shipley is a cerebral runner who can make guys miss before they even attempt to tackle him. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry or more in each of his three seasons at Clemson, totaling 2,748 yards and 31 touchdowns during his time there. One of the more consistent receivers in this group, he also added 85 catches, 602 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Shipley is a quintessential “all-around” back, showing to be above average as a runner, tackle-breaker, receiver and blocker.

Shipley lacks a true elite trait as well as a top gear to be considered a home run threat.  He doesn’t always win the corner when he tries to attack it. Shipley has suffered some injuries throughout his career and has shown ball security lapses at times in both the passing and running game. But he will appeal to teams looking for a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none to add to their roster.

Best Of The Rest

11. Purdue RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. – Redshirt Senior – 5-11, 209 – 4.48

Tracy began his college career at Iowa as a big wide receiver before transferring to Purdue where he switched to running back. As a result, he’s a very balanced back that can catch and run the ball with ease, which makes him pro-ready. Tracy logged a career-high 113 carries for 716 yards and a 6.3 average with eight touchdowns in his sixth year. That showed NFL teams that he has potential to run between the tackles and play running back.

But with 113 career catches for 1,201 yards (10.6 avg.) and five receiving touchdowns, he’s destined to be a three-down back in the NFL capable of being an all-purpose weapon. With 4.48 speed, Tracy is plenty elusive in the open field with the ball in his hands – either as a runner at the second level or as a receiver.

12. Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo – Redshirt Senior – 6-0, 221 – 4.33

With a very unique size/speed combination it is a wonder why Isaac Guerrendo was not a bigger part of the Louisville offense. With just one career start across six seasons, the almost 24-year-old back never logged a 1,000 yard season, topping out at 810 in 2023. Part of the issue is an injury history that was part of the reason why he has stayed in college for so long, missing over 23 games between 2019 and 2021.

Still there is enough traits/talent in his game to keep teams intrigued. Size, speed, receiving ability and pass protection will likely lead him to getting a chance after another back goes down to injury where he ends up being one of the best backs in the league for a 4-6 game stretch at some point in the next three years.

13. Marshall RB Rasheen Ali – Redshirt Senior – 5-11, 206 – N/A

A 2022 season that was largely lost to injury buttresses two very productive campaigns for Ali. Combining 2021 and 2023, he ran for 2,536 yards and 38 touchdowns while adding 74 catches for 555 yards and another two scores. He exhibits excellent footwork and speed.

Ali has the speed and burst to contribute not only on offense, but potentially be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the new kickoff rule the NFL will be instituting in 2024. There are some injury concerns that were seen up through all-star season (tore a bicep during Senior Bowl week) and he could stand to run behind his pads more.

14. Missouri RB Cody Schrader – Redshirt Senior – 5-9, 202 – 4.61

Schrader comes with a wealth of experience with over 2,000 touches since his high school career started. That may turn a lot of teams off who will worry about his mileage. It doesn’t help that Schrader’s preferred running style is to embrace and dole out contact.

Schrader’s running style is very linear, but that does not mesh well with his average speed and severely reduces his chances of being a dynamic player at the next level. His dense frame, strong leg-drive and tenacious demeanor will make him a sought-after commodity on day three as the hammer in a running back committee.

15. New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube – Redshirt Senior – 5-10, 206 – 4.54

Laube is the best receiving back in this class with production that would make some receivers blush. 68 catches, 708 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 helped him earn an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl where he stood out with some of the fastest top speeds of the week among all running backs. But Laube’s running style lacks breakaway speed or the contact balance to offer a path to a starting role in the NFL.

The hope for Laube will be a team with a creative offensive coordinator can carve out a multi-dimensional role for him to line up in both the backfield as well as in the slot and occasionally out wide as a poor man’s Christian McCaffrey for 5-10 snaps per game.

16. Washington RB Dillon Johnson – Senior – 5-12, 217 – 4.68

Johnson s a best profiled with a receiver-first skillset that adds some running on top. He is slippery in holes, reducing his surface area and making it difficult to bring him down. But his lack of true open-field speed will create a pretty low ceiling for him. His 173 career receptions will be enticing for teams looking for a quality and reliable check-down option in the passing game.

Johnson did emerge as a complete running back during his senior season. Battling injuries, he still ran for a career-high 1,195 yards with 16 touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry in helping Washington reach the college football championship game.

17. Troy RB Kimani Vidal – Senior – 5-8, 213 – 4.46

Vidal was a standout among the running backs at the Reese’s Senior Bowl week showing off his speed and burst. Vidal stacked that performance on one of the most productive seasons by a running back in the FBS. His 1,661 rushing yards, 1,862 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns earned him a third team all-American and Sun Belt Conference offensive player of the year honors.

Vidal’s small stature and lack of special teams’ experience will hurt his draft stock with some teams. He tends to be more of a linear runner, struggling to win across a lateral plane and not always winning the corner when he challenges it.  But he is a tough runner with a nasty demeanor and strong leg drive and that will appeal to old-school coaches who want a scrapper.

18. South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis – Senior – 6-0, 281 – 4.57

Isaiah Davis has a strong frame and powerful legs that will make him appealing as an early-down yard grinder. His combination of running strength, finishing style and ball security should afford him an opportunity to be a pure runner who helps get teams to third and short. He can also be a goal line threat as he has shown a nose for the end zone with 50 career touchdowns.

Despite racking up almost 700 carries and 4,548 career rushing yards at 6.7 yards per carry, he has just 53 career catches and less than 500 yards through the air. Davis is not likely to be trusted on third down and lacks the speed to be a dynamic weapon that teams will want to build packages for within the offense. But if you need a tough 2-4 yards he will be the guy you want to put in.

19. Memphis RB Blake Watson – Redshirt Senior – 5-9, 200 – 4.4

Blake Watson does not have ideal size to be a three-down back, but still was a very productive all-around running back at Memphis last year where he earned first team all-ACC honors. His 480 receiving yards were near half the 1,152 rushing yards he compiled to go along with 17 total touchdowns. Watson’s 4.4 speed doesn’t always show on tape as he is more of a burst player than a long-speed threat.

He avoids tackles in a variety of ways, bouncing off of them, driving through and showing good contact-balance. Watson’s receiving ability as a former wide receiver will be what helps get him on the field. His secure hands and overall athletic traits should allow him to contribute to an NFL club 10-15 snaps per game.

20. Georgia RB Kendall Milton – Senior – 6-1, 225 – 4.62

Milton is a big-bodied banger that was a complementary runner with Daijun Edwards, who was smaller and shiftier. Milton had to bide his time behind a plethora of other talented backs at Georgia before seeing more action during his senior season in 2023. After rushing for 592 yards and eight touchdowns with a 7.0 average as a junior, Milton ran for 790 yards and 14 TDs as a senior, while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

Milton came on for the Bulldogs over the final five games of the season and was more productive than Edwards. He scored nine touchdowns over that span and averaged 7.9 yards per carry. He’s always had a limited role in the Georgia passing game and will need to work on running routes and catching the ball at the next level. Otherwise he’ll be relegated to a two-down back with short-yardage and goal line situations being his speciality.

Bucs’ Best Bets: Running Back

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 1-3: USC RB Marshawn Lloyd

Lloyd is a bigger back at 5-foot-9, 220 pounds and has great elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability. He starred at South Carolina for two years with quarterback Spencer Rattler before transferring to USC where he played with Caleb Williams. Lloyd is plenty fast with a 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash, and that speed shows up on tape, especially as he accelerates through the line of scrimmage. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2022 for the Gamecocks and 7.1 yards per carry last year for the Trojans.

Lloyd would offer a nice change of pace to Rachaad White as he’s a more urgent runner. And he has good receiving skills despite being underused in the passing game at both South Carolina and at USC. He only caught 13 passes last year for the Trojans, but picked up 232 yards (17.8 avg.). He’s also a good red zone runner with back-to-back seasons with nine rushing touchdowns. Lloyd was one of two backs that had a formal meeting with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 4-7: Georgia RB Kendall Milton

If the Bucs wait until Day 3 to address the running back position, which they might, Milton would be a late-round consideration. Although he ran a 4.62 in the 40-yard dash, Milton is a banger that runs with nice power and tackle-breaking ability. Solidly built at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, he’s a threat in short-yardage situations and around the goal line, evidenced by 22 rushing touchdowns over the past two years, including 14 last season.

Milton gives the Bucs’ backfield more of a physical presence, and he’s good in pass protection – although he was not used much in the passing game. He had just 12 catches for 116 yards (9.7 avg.) and one touchdown out of the backfield at Georgia. Milton comes from a winning program, as the Bulldogs won back-to-back national championships from 2021-22, and only lost one game last season. New Bucs receivers coach Bryan McClendon was on Georgia’s staff the past couple of years and will vouch for Milton.