Tank Bigsby, Tigres d’Auburn. (Photo de Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
The running backs available for the 2023 NFL Draft Class are extremely diverse and feature a variety of game-changing skill sets.
The 2023 draft features great depth in many positions, but none like running backs. From the most complete prospect in the entire draft to some of the greatest college producers in recent memory, this group is filled with desirable NFL talent. What makes this position group most impressive are the honorable mentions outside the top 10. Deuece Vaughn, who was All-American twice in a row, is on the sidelines, alongside a number of All-Conference selections.
There’s real potential for a running back to be taken as high as we’ve seen since Saquon Barkley was picked by the Giants at number 2 in 2018, and there’s a real chance we’ll see two. in the first round. Seven of the 10 running backs to watch are surefire top-100 prospects and have impressive potential to make an impact in their rookie seasons. With that being said, let’s move on to this year’s best running backs.
Who are the top 10 running backs available in the NFL Draft?
10. Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Tank Bigsby ironically looks like a self-generated fifth-year running back from a Madden franchise. He lived up to his name perfectly in three years at Auburn, racking up more than 2,900 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on 540 carries. After his sophomore season, marked by more than 1,100 rushing yards, Bigsby was considered one of the top 10 guards heading into the 2022 college season, and he has risen to the occasion. However, it finds itself at the bottom of the list for two reasons.
First, 540 carries in three years of SEC competition is a lot of mileage for a running back. It’s unfair to condemn a prospect for high volume in college, and Bigsby wasn’t even the most-used running back in that class. Derrick Henry carried 395 times in his junior season at Alabama and he did well in the league. Longevity isn’t for everyone, though, and using Tank in college is something to consider heading into draft day.
Second, and this is Really unfair, Bigsby was rightfully the centerpiece of the Tigers’ offense. It doesn’t make sense as a shot without context, so here it is. I don’t believe there’s an NFL team with a system that can deploy him the way he was at Auburn, which makes it hard to project his potential as a professional. He lined up in the wildcat and was used in jet sweeps – his high-volume use was highly creative and his role at Auburn is unlikely to be replicated in the league.
One of the biggest positives in his sighting report — and there are many, make no mistake about it — is the diversity of Auburn’s offense. The Tigers are balanced in their blocking scheme, splitting looks fairly evenly between zone and space concepts. In theory, Bigsby could run in any system. The question is whether the team expects him to be durable and how much of a pure runner they think he can be.
Following : 9. Zach Evans
