The anticipation surrounding the first running back to be drafted has finally come to an end.
In a bold move, the Carolina Panthers traded up six spots to secure Texas running back Jonathon Brooks with the 46th pick in the NFL draft on Friday night, marking the second-latest selection for the first running back off the board.
The last time the NFL witnessed a longer wait for a running back to be drafted was in 2014 when Bishop Sankey was the first taken, going 54th to Tennessee.
A similar scenario unfolded in 2019, during the common draft era that commenced in 1967, when no running backs were selected in the first round, and Breece Hall was the first chosen at No. 36 by the New York Jets.
Brooks’ selection might kickstart a surge at the position, as several other top running backs are projected to be taken in the second and third rounds of the draft. Despite Brooks’ impressive performance with 1,139 rushing yards in 11 games, his draft stock may have been affected by an ACL tear late in the season.
In recent years, teams have shown reluctance to use premium picks on running backs, favoring passing-focused offenses and opting for more diverse running back rotations.
Although there was a brief deviation last season with Atlanta selecting Bijan Robinson eighth overall and Detroit taking Jahmyr Gibbs at 12th — both before any wide receivers were drafted — this year’s draft showcased a record-tying seven wide receivers in the first round. This trend underscores the evolving dynamics of NFL offenses, with an increased emphasis on the passing game.
Since the implementation of the rookie wage scale in 2011, there has been a notable discrepancy between the number of receivers and running backs drafted in the first round, with 59 receivers compared to 19 running backs.
The league’s shift towards passing-oriented offenses was further exemplified by the 2023 season, which marked the first time since 1990 that no running back carried the ball at least 300 times, with Derrick Henry leading the league with 280 carries.
These developments were mirrored in the 2023 offseason, characterized by star running backs struggling to secure lucrative long-term contracts amidst NFL teams’ increased investment in passing-centric strategies.
