Running back has been devalued in the current NFL, with passing games becoming more sophisticated, and more committees than ever being employed. However, transcendent talent still rules the day no matter the position, and in 2015 NFL front offices are grappling with how to evaluate Georgia Bulldogs rusher Todd Gurley.
He was a Heisman candidate entering the 2014 season, but an unfortunate suspension for profiting from autographed gear, followed by a torn ACL in his first game back, ruined that. The injury also was also believed to make dropping from the first round a possibility.
NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah doesn't envision the knee torpedoing Gurley's draft stock. In fact, he doesn't think it will hurt him at all.
"I think he's more likely to go in the top 10 than he is to go in the bottom 10 of the first round," Jeremiah said. "More likely he's going to go in that 10 to pick 22. I have very little doubt he's going to be a first-round pick, it's just a matter of how high he'll go."
Gurley's athleticism and speed were evident several times when he would make highlight-reel runs, and even make impact plays as a kick returner. His numbers with Georgia though do not jump out like Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon, or Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah. Both of those backs broke the single-game rushing record this season, and Gordon rushed for more than 2,500 yards last season.
Gurley didn't top 1,000 yards rushing in either of his final two seasons at Georgia, and over those two seasons combined scored just two more touchdowns than he did in his freshman campaign. Gurley was a dynamic return man-he averaged 44.8 yards per return and took one to the house last year-but in the NFL as a high pick he may not be used in that capacity to limit his injury risk.
None of that matters to Jeremiah, and he thinks some team in the early part of the draft will see him the same way. "There are so many cases you can make about a football player like this," Jeremiah added. "He's a special player."
[NFL.com]
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