Runningbacks in the draft

[Elmgrovegnome]

It seems that most of us agree that the Rams need a speed option at RB. They just drafted Corum but Kyren’s on his last deal so it still makes sense to try to find one.

Is Donovan Edwards a fit as a late round pick? Hes had some long runs in college and ran pretty fast at the combine. 4.45. I always thought Edwards may run a bit too upright.

Hampton is my favorite. Traveyon Henderson could fit for some speed.

Are any of these guys good pass protectors?

 

[dieterbrock]

Really disappointed in Monangai’s 40 time. He played so much faster than that

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Really disappointed in Monangai’s 40 time. He played so much faster than that

I was too. Mayock said he thinks Edwards can run a faster 40 than 4.45. He looked good in the Staley drill too. I really like him as a late round pick.

I’d like @Corbin opinion on the matter.

 

[jrry32]

It seems that most of us agree that the Rams need a speed option at RB. They just drafted Corum but Kyren’s on his last deal so it still makes sense to try to find one.

Is Donovan Edwards a fit as a late round pick? Hes had some long runs in college and ran pretty fast at the combine. 4.45. I always thought Edwards may run a bit too upright.

Hampton is my favorite. Traveyon Henderson could fit for some speed.

Are any of these guys good pass protectors?

I'm not so keen on Edwards. He was stuck behind Corum and then Kalel Mullings (a former LB) beat him out for the #1 HB job after Corum left. I'd rather take Mullings on Day 3 to be a power HB than Edwards. If we're looking for a speed guy, we could go after Brashard Smith or Jaydon Blue. (I see Tuten as a Day 2 guy now.) I still am partial to LeQuint Allen. He's not a burner, but he has burst and elite passing-game skills.

 

[Corbin]

I was too. Mayock said he thinks Edwards can run a faster 40 than 4.45. He looked good in the Staley drill too. I really like him as a late round pick.

I’d like @Corbin opinion on the matter.

Sorry seen your message but had horrible service here in Quito airport.

Depending what you want him for as he has a specific skill set.

As Corum and Williams are grinders to grind out tough/short yards and chunk plays to tire out a defense Edward’s is much different type of RB. He not a power back or grinder but an especially good change of pace back/receiving out the backfield RB. He’s also pretty damned good at pass protecting on 3rd downs too.

He’s a one cut and go RB, he doesn’t generate a lot push in short yardage tbh but once he gets going he’s very tough to bring down in the open field and shifty asf.

As Jrry stated he wasn’t the starter but then again Michigan uses grinders as their main RB’s and Mullings was Powerade player of the Year in Massachusetts in 2019. A lot of members from the Wolverine forum from Massachusetts feel Mullings was a far better RB than LB anyway which I wouldn’t worry about Edward’s being 2nd string as that’s not how he’s been used as his entire career as the stats screen shot shows.

You draft him only as a complement to a grinding RB like our other two and change of pace and have McVay design plays to send him to the house. That is what made their run game so dangerous their championship season, Corum/Edwards combo put to bed Sabans Alabama team and Washington’s D. Edward’s has a knack from breaking open stalemates. Honestly he might be a legit kick/punt returner too which we need and had the skills for.

His official 40 was 4.44 it looks like. He’s also secure with the ball. Never seen him get caught from behind.

In this draft in particular if we could steal a 7th or 6th extra via trades and we don’t get Omarion or Gordon III as I suspect McVay will be targeting them,
I’d absolutely love to pick him up.

Donovan Edwards runs official 4.44-second 40-yard dash at 2025 combine

Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards runs the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

sports.yahoo.com

One last thing I love about him is he seems to have his biggest plays in the biggest of games. That says a lot. Against mediocre teams he was blah a lot tbh..

Your Nittany lions game his sophomore year is about 1:35.

View: https://youtu.be/fkA6XbfQvdI

 

[WestCoastRam]

It seems that most of us agree that the Rams need a speed option at RB. They just drafted Corum but Kyren’s on his last deal so it still makes sense to try to find one.

Is Donovan Edwards a fit as a late round pick? Hes had some long runs in college and ran pretty fast at the combine. 4.45. I always thought Edwards may run a bit too upright.

Hampton is my favorite. Traveyon Henderson could fit for some speed.

Are any of these guys good pass protectors?

All things equal with our draft capital, I'd prefer speed at pass catcher first (though there's a slight caveat that that pass catcher can come from a RB), multiple pass catchers second and RB third.

But I'm not gonna cry if they take a RB who can take it to the house.

 

[jrry32]

It seems that most of us agree that the Rams need a speed option at RB. They just drafted Corum but Kyren’s on his last deal so it still makes sense to try to find one.

Is Donovan Edwards a fit as a late round pick? Hes had some long runs in college and ran pretty fast at the combine. 4.45. I always thought Edwards may run a bit too upright.

Hampton is my favorite. Traveyon Henderson could fit for some speed.

Are any of these guys good pass protectors?

TreVeyon Henderson is a good pass protector.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

All things equal with our draft capital, I'd prefer speed at pass catcher first (though there's a slight caveat that that pass catcher can come from a RB), multiple pass catchers second and RB third.

But I'm not gonna cry if they take a RB who can take it to the house.

I think if McVay wants to mix it up a pass catching back could be a nice compliment to both Corum and Williams. I miss Gurley’s speed and going out o. Wheel routes, plus his size made for an easier target. Edwards is a bigger back that can catch.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I'm not so keen on Edwards. He was stuck behind Corum and then Kalel Mullings (a former LB) beat him out for the #1 HB job after Corum left. I'd rather take Mullings on Day 3 to be a power HB than Edwards. If we're looking for a speed guy, we could go after Brashard Smith or Jaydon Blue. (I see Tuten as a Day 2 guy now.) I still am partial to LeQuint Allen. He's not a burner, but he has burst and elite passing-game skills.

McVay seems to like smaller shifty types at RB. I don’t think he’d ever change his preference for the lead back. Edwards could fit as pass catching back. He’s a bigger target and runs well in the open field. I was only thinking of him as a late round pick to help with McVay wanting to have a more dynamic offense.

I like Hampton and Henderson, as the main back. I doubt the Rams pick either because they will get picked too early.

Corum hasn’t been as good as Williams. He improved but Williams is shiftier, sees the holes better and can get tough yards inside. So I’d prefer a starter to eventually replace Williams, unless they extended him. If they do then Edwards might be a good fit.

 

[Memphis Ram]

McVay seems to like smaller shifty types at RB. I don’t think he’d ever change his preference for the lead back. Edwards could fit as pass catching back. He’s a bigger target and runs well in the open field. I was only thinking of him as a late round pick to help with McVay wanting to have a more dynamic offense.

I like Hampton and Henderson, as the main back. I doubt the Rams pick either because they will get picked too early.

Corum hasn’t been as good as Williams. He improved but Williams is shiftier, sees the holes better and can get tough yards inside. So I’d prefer a starter to eventually replace Williams, unless they extended him. If they do then Edwards might be a good fit.

I believe it's unfair to make the Corum vs. Williams comparison so early with such a small sample size of opportunities for the former. One could argue that Akers looked better than Williams when the latter was a rookie. Shoot Darryl Henderson even tied him in ypc.

 

[Corbin]

McVay seems to like smaller shifty types at RB. I don’t think he’d ever change his preference for the lead back. Edwards could fit as pass catching back. He’s a bigger target and runs well in the open field. I was only thinking of him as a late round pick to help with McVay wanting to have a more dynamic offense.

I like Hampton and Henderson, as the main back. I doubt the Rams pick either because they will get picked too early.

Corum hasn’t been as good as Williams. He improved but Williams is shiftier, sees the holes better and can get tough yards inside. So I’d prefer a starter to eventually replace Williams, unless they extended him. If they do then Edwards might be a good fit.

Got to remember Williams did did less than Corum his first year. Doesn’t mean Corum isn’t capable. Problem is Williams is in last year which means it’ll probably be another year before Corum balls out.

And if we pick up a guy like Omarion or Gordon II we’ll probably never know how good Corum could have been.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I think if McVay wants to mix it up a pass catching back could be a nice compliment to both Corum and Williams. I miss Gurley’s speed and going out o. Wheel routes, plus his size made for an easier target. Edwards is a bigger back that can catch.

I should say, I would prefer a back that can run routes out wide or option routes so that we have a weapon against man coverage.

Basically, I think the need for speed as a man beating weapon is most important and that ideally comes from someone on the line or just off it so looking for more than wheel and texas routes from the backfield.

But if we can't seem to get that at WR (or even TE) than a speed back is fine weapon at some point.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I believe it's unfair to make the Corum vs. Williams comparison so early with such a small sample size of opportunities for the former. One could argue that Akers looked better than Williams when the latter was a rookie. Shoot Darryl Henderson even tied him in ypc.

I’m not comparing the numbers as much as I am comparing what I see.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I should say, I would prefer a back that can run routes out wide or option routes so that we have a weapon against man coverage.

Basically, I think the need for speed as a man beating weapon is most important and that ideally comes from someone on the line or just off it so looking for more than wheel and texas routes from the backfield.

But if we can't seem to get that at WR (or even TE) than a speed back is fine weapon at some point.

Watch the Deuce Staley drill. Edwards has some of the best feet at the combine.