While the 2024 NFL Draft isn’t viewed to be particularly deep at running back, and there likely won’t be one selected during the first round, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that teams have high expectations for the top prospect at the position, Jonathon Brooks.
University of Texas standout Jonathon Brooks is working his way back from a torn ACL, but Schefter says that several teams believe he’ll be an immediate contributor as a rookie.
“Had Jonathon Brooks (Texas) not torn his right ACL last November,” Schefter writes for ESPN. “He likely would have been the top running back selected, possibly in the middle or later portion of Round 1. Now, his knee injury is expected to push him into the second round.
“Whichever team drafts Brooks, however, still is likely to have him for training camp. He had surgery on his clean ACL tear Dec. 1, was told he would be fully recovered in nine months and already is running. The team that drafts him likely would be getting a discount due to the knee injury, with a player still likely to make an impact during the 2024 season.”Jonathon Brooks NFL Draft Scouting Report
Brooks could provide insane value for a team in the second round of this year’s draft, and Schefter reports there’s a belief inside the league that that team will be the Dallas Cowboys.
Prior to suffering his season-ending injury last November, Brooks had posted rushed for 1,479 yards with 16 touchdowns, while averaging 6.2 yards per carry during his three seasons in Austin.
“He’s agile and smooth working from cut to cut and is likely to improve his feel for reading blocks,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Brooks. “And setting up defenders as he gains experience. Brooks has the wiggle and know-how to create yardage in tight quarters or in space but is efficient finishing runs when it’s time. He has good burst but can be a little hesitant to punch the gas between the tackles until he sees clear points of entry, and he isn’t a physical run finisher.”
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