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2025 Draft: RBs

RB is not a major need, but Adam Randall in the later rounds would be an interesting pick. Great size. Decent speed. Good hands out of the backfield. Only played RB for 1 full season. Maybe some untapped potential

Roman Hemby another late round option. Runs angry.
 

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Clemson RB Adam Randall

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents...
steelersdepot.com
 
Just saw this on a tweet about Adam Randall's intangibles.

But just as relevant to the #Seahawks are all the intangible boxes he checks….
**Voted permanent team captain
**Didn’t transfer despite position change
**Earned Masters degree
 
I’ve been thinking about a structural inefficiency in how the NFL values RBs vs WRs, and I’m a little surprised it doesn’t get talked about more.

We all know the basics:
Very good to great WRs get paid in the vicinity of $25mm-$40mm/year
Very good to great RBs get paid in the vicinity of $10mm–20m/year

That makes sense if RBs are just runners. But some RBs aren’t.
There’s a small subset of RBs (McCaffrey, Kamara, Gibbs, etc.) who:
run real routes (not just screens/checkdowns)
can line up in the slot or out wide
create separation vs LBs/safeties
effectively generate WR-type value in the passing game

They’re producing something closer to a WR… but getting paid like a RB.

That feels like a pricing inefficiency.
If a team can draft/develop RBs with:
elite short-area agility (3-cone type movement)
real receiving skill (route tree, not just hands)
ability to be used as a mismatch weapon

…you’re potentially getting:
70–80% of a WR’s receiving value
plus rushing value
at a fraction of the cost

That’s huge surplus value in a cap-constrained league.

I’m curious if you guys (Manxman, Mayoclinic & others) agree with this thought and also who you think might fit that description of WR skills masquerading as a RB or RB with elite WR like potential. In playing around on the internet some names I came up with… Adam Randall, Nick Singleton, and some late round flyers Emmett Johnson & J’mari Taylor. Would love to get yours or anyone else’s thoughts. One last thing, do you think 3-cone drill is best single statistic to look at if trying to exploit what I believe is inefficient pricing between excellent receiving RBs and WRs.
 
This is something I've thought about a lot.

RBs have a short shelf life compared to other positions, but their impact on a game can be huge. They will often touch the ball 15-20x per game, far more than a WR is targeted (obviously, WRs have to be accounted for even if not targeted). If they can receive, and/or block, their value goes up tremendously, as they keep a defense guessing.

I'm not saying RBs are worth more than WRs, but they can be extremely valuable assets, and the discrepancy in market value is disproportional.
 
silentone said:
I’ve been thinking about a structural inefficiency in how the NFL values RBs vs WRs, and I’m a little surprised it doesn’t get talked about more.

We all know the basics:
Very good to great WRs get paid in the vicinity of $25mm-$40mm/year
Very good to great RBs get paid in the vicinity of $10mm–20m/year

That makes sense if RBs are just runners. But some RBs aren’t.
There’s a small subset of RBs (McCaffrey, Kamara, Gibbs, etc.) who:
run real routes (not just screens/checkdowns)
can line up in the slot or out wide
create separation vs LBs/safeties
effectively generate WR-type value in the passing game

They’re producing something closer to a WR… but getting paid like a RB.

That feels like a pricing inefficiency.
If a team can draft/develop RBs with:
elite short-area agility (3-cone type movement)
real receiving skill (route tree, not just hands)
ability to be used as a mismatch weapon

…you’re potentially getting:
70–80% of a WR’s receiving value
plus rushing value
at a fraction of the cost

That’s huge surplus value in a cap-constrained league.

I’m curious if you guys (Manxman, Mayoclinic & others) agree with this thought and also who you think might fit that description of WR skills masquerading as a RB or RB with elite WR like potential. In playing around on the internet some names I came up with… Adam Randall, Nick Singleton, and some late round flyers Emmett Johnson & J’mari Taylor. Would love to get yours or anyone else’s thoughts. One last thing, do you think 3-cone drill is best single statistic to look at if trying to exploit what I believe is inefficient pricing between excellent receiving RBs and WRs.
Click to expand...
I've been thinking something similar, but not in the exact same context.
With the Pats interest in RBs (real or not), got me thinking Vrabel wants to build a team in his image, tough physical, smash mouth.
When you add in the younger, cheaper, better mantra and the additions we made to be a more physical run blocking team and Rham going into the 3rd year of a 4 year contract that has a financial out after this year, I'm starting to think we will be taking a RB earlier than a lot of folks think.
I've been on the Singleton wagon for weeks. Him or Washington, or even Randall if we wait till later are seriously are in play much more than I think most would consider.
Now I know we have the PF2s of the world that think a legit #1 WR will make our offense unstoppable, but what helps a QB more than a running game that teams have to account for, game plan for, and forces more defenders closer to the LOS?
I personally prefer Singleton because I think he will be a very good pro, and can probably be had a rd, or half a round later than Washington.
And to your point silent, Singleton is an excellent receiving back.
hmmmm.
2 PSUers in the draft, DDS and Singleton, I could live with that.
 
DoubleDeluxe said:
I've been thinking something similar, but not in the exact same context.
With the Pats interest in RBs (real or not), got me thinking Vrabel wants to build a team in his image, tough physical, smash mouth.
When you add in the younger, cheaper, better mantra and the additions we made to be a more physical run blocking team and Rham going into the 3rd year of a 4 year contract that has a financial out after this year, I'm starting to think we will be taking a RB earlier than a lot of folks think.
I've been on the Singleton wagon for weeks. Him or Washington, or even Randall if we wait till later are seriously are in play much more than I think most would consider.
Now I know we have the PF2s of the world that think a legit #1 WR will make our offense unstoppable, but what helps a QB more than a running game that teams have to account for, game plan for, and forces more defenders closer to the LOS?
I personally prefer Singleton because I think he will be a very good pro, and can probably be had a rd, or half a round later than Washington.
And to your point silent, Singleton is an excellent receiving back.
hmmmm.
2 PSUers in the draft, DDS and Singleton, I could live with that.
Click to expand...
2 Clemsonites: TJ Parker and Adam Randall. I could live better with that.
 
There's a lot of ways to improve a team.

One of the best ways to improve a defense is to have them spend less time on the field.
 
Because of the nature of the sport the RB is like your underwear. You need plenty of them because you will be constantly replacing them but you don't want to make a big investment in one for that very same reason. Lmao
 
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