Top 10 Running Back Rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft coming out of the NFL Combine are surprisingly promising

It turns out that he was right. Benson ran a 4.5-second forty in high school, but posted a 4.39 last week weighing 10 pounds more than he did when he first entered college. When you combine his speed, burst, and efficiency numbers Benson seems like the top running back right now.

Jonathon Brooks (Texas) could be the clear RB1 in the class if he were healthy, but he likely won't be ready to get on the field until well into his rookie season thanks to his November ACL tear. He could have reached nearly 2000 yards from scrimmage had he stayed healthy last fall.

Braelon Allen (Wisconsin) sat out all the on-field testing at the NFL Combine, but when I asked him about it he mentioned that he's still training to prepare for his pro day. He talked through improving in pass pro and continuing to work on his receiving game too. If he tests well at his pro day weighing almost 240 pounds he could end up being the first running back off the board.

Blake Corum (Michigan) was the most popular podium interview of the week at the NFL Combine. If he pairs up with his former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh the sky might by the limit for his work load and opportunities at the next level. He tested "okay" after measuring in a little shorter than some expected, but he's still a day two running back.

Jaylen Wright (Tennessee) and MarShawn Lloyd (USC) were among key "winners" at the NFL Combine who solidified their tier one status. Wright ran a 4.38-second forty at 210 pounds. Lloyd ran a 4.46 at 220 pounds. Both had elite speed scores and top ten efficiency numbers as running backs last fall. Both could be in the RB1 mix now.

Best of the Rest

Bucky Irving (Oregon) and Ray Davis (Kentucky) did not have good NFL Combine performances, but still remain solid tier two options at running back.

Irving weighed in incredibly small at 5'9", 192 pounds, then tested rather slow for his size as well, which was surprising. Irving was one of the best running backs in the nation at creating extra yards beyond expectation so his Combine was a bit odd. He likely slips to day three now for sure.

Davis didn't have a terrible day, but his agility times were 6th percentile and he didn't wow anywhere else. His physical run style and large sample of success likely land him early day three still.

Will Shipley abstained from participation in any drills, but should be ready by the Clemson pro day. He is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none kind of running back prospect who likely goes early day three unless a team wants to reach for his receiving ability.

And lastly, Kimani Vidal was a huge winner that likely vaulted up draft boards at the NFL Combine. He posted a 90th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite Score, which might have surprised some given he was a small school running back. Vidal compares himself to Maurice Jones-Drew, and after his showing last week that makes a lot of sense.

If you'd like to dive into more positional rankings coming off the NFL Combine you can find an entire thread in this post from me below:

Be looking for more positional rankings and breakdowns coming this week from me here at A to Z Sports. Feel free to follow me @FF_TravisM on X for more NFL Draft content all spring long. And if you haven't checked out the latest from the A to Z Film Room, I highly recommend this video below where they dive into winners and losers from the NFL Combine!