(10-30-2023, 02:56 PM)flgatorsandjags Wrote:

(10-30-2023, 02:02 PM)NYC4jags Wrote:
For the life of me, I don't understand why it rubs people so badly that teams just  don't gamble on first round backs very often anymore and I agree with that practice.

Most teams will still take a back in the first if they get lucky and a elite back falls to them.  Just this year 2 teams did it in the top 12 picks.  That many backs don't get drafted in the first because there aren't many elite RB respects that come thrugh.

Quote:talent trumping positional value at the RB position is more rare in the modern NFL than it used to be and for good reason. 


2023 - 2  - 1st round RB
2022 -  ZERO - 1st round RB
2021 - 2 - 1st round RB
2020 - 1 - 1st round RB
2019 - 1 - 1st round RB

That's 6 RBs in the 1st round in 5 years. 

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2008 - 5 - 1st round RB
2007 - 1 - 1st round RB
2006 - 4 - 1st round RB
2005 - 3 - 1st round RB
2004 - 3 - 1st round RB

That's SIXTEEN RBs selected in the first round over 5 years. 

GMs are wise to no longer risk so many early picks on running backs. And this ^  should make the trend very obvious for you.  It has to be a special talent to lead you to exception and about half of those exceptions fail.

This tectonic shift in drafting strategy did not happen by accident. The game has changed, the rules have changed, the RB position is devalued. The GMs have adjusted.