Alabama RB's stock rising in 2023 NFL Draft

Maybe running backs haven't lost all their value, after all.

ESPN's Todd McShay served some draft-week tea on Monday and among many intriguing nuggets was a blurb on the rising stock of Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

"When ... decision-makers start asking me what I've heard on certain players, that typically means there is growing interest around those guys," McShay said before adding that he's "heard [Gibbs'] name a lot this week."

McShay notes that from what he's heard, "Some teams don't even have that big of a gap between [Bijan] Robinson and him, which is telling because Robinson is a star."

To his point, Robinson is viewed by multiple outlets as a top-10 prospect in this year's class. Gibbs doesn't have as much fanfare surrounding him, but there's valid reasoning for teams drafting late in the first round to consider a pursuit.

McShay alludes to Gibbs' overall playmaking ability as a reason for teams giving him a high draft grade. In three college seasons -- two at Georgia Tech, one at Alabama -- he had 103 receptions for 1,212 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with his 383 carries, 2,132 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He added 1,052 yards and another touchdown in 44 kick returns.

"And with a down wide receiver class, teams might be thinking about drafting Gibbs and giving him snaps out of the slot," says McShay. 

In the 2023 Sugar Bowl against Kansas State, Gibbs showed how he can be a matchup nightmare for defenses from the slot on a 60-yard reception on a drag route.