The consensus among NFL Draft evaluators is Bijan Robinson, the Texas Longhorn, is the top running back in the 2023 class, with Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs trailing him at No. 2.
That isn't how former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew sees it. Jones-Drew, a now-turned-analyst for the NFL Network, went against the consensus opinion and put Gibbs as his top guy.
"Many view Texas' Bijan Robinson as the top running back in this class, but Gibbs is my choice," Jones-Drew said. "The Alabama product is a three-down back with a lot of upside. With his play often compared to New Orleans' Alvin Kamara, Gibbs is all about speed - evidenced by his 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine - but also possesses great start/stop quickness and is extremely elusive in the open field."
Jones-Drew goes on to mention the abilities of Gibbs as a receiver as well. He even noted that he could be a guy who can be put on the outside and run a go-route. So what's the difference between the two for the former NFL back? Speed.
Jones-Drew values an elite trait like speed more than being an all-around good back like Robinson. But for the Dallas Cowboys, what Jones-Drew described in Gibbs is similar to what they already have in Pollard. So should that scare the Cowboys away?
No, Jones-Drew said:
"You want explosive guys. I think the league has changed from that downhill runner. Yes, you want to have a guy like that if you're the Tennessee Titans or if you're a team that runs downhill," the NFL veteran said. "But if you're the Dallas Cowboys, you want explosive players. They are trying to become an explosive offense. ..."
"So yes, [Gibbs] and Tony Pollard may have the same type of burst, the same type of game; that's going to be tough on the defense because now I get one guy that can go the distance from 80 yards out, and another guy that can go from 80 yards out. It just puts a different stress on the defense."
It is an interesting argument that may be taken care of for the Cowboys if Robinson goes off the board before their No. 26 overall pick. Jones-Drew has this happening in his recent mock draft, as the Philadelphia Eagles take Robinson at No. 10 before the Cowboys take Gibbs at No. 26.
Gibbs proved productive throughout his college career, even dating back to his first two years at Georgia Tech, before transferring to the Crimson Tide.
Despite not breaking the 1,000 yards rushing benchmark in any of his three years at the college level. Gibbs recorded over 1,200 yards from scrimmage in his final two seasons.
It doesn't seem like the Cowboys could go wrong with either Gibbs or Robinson, but if they are weary of how many miles were put on in college, Gibbs had 107 fewer carries than Robinson did this past season.
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