Next week, the Baltimore Ravens will officially begin free agency, and many have predicted that the team will land future Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry. However, one draft prospect who would fit well with the organization regardless is Oregon rusher Bucky Irving.
At the NFL Combine, Irving recorded some numbers that failed to impress, but after the success of Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, perhaps his numbers are deceiving.
The easiest trap to fall into when evaluating players is overvaluing their results at the NFL Combine and letting it overshadow on-field production.
Back in 2022, Williams fell to the Rams after posting some subpar numbers at his combine, but in his second NFL season, he was given a three-down workload and rewarded the team by making his first All-Pro team.
Below are the results of how both running backs tested at the combine and where Irving’s numbers ranked among this year’s class. These numbers show why I believe Irving could be the best Kyren Williams.
Williams
Height 5-9
Weight 194
Arm length 28 5/8 inches
Hand size 9 inches
40-yard dash 4.65 seconds
10-yard dash 1.62 seconds
Vertical 32 inches
Broad jump 9' 8"
Irving
Height 5-9
Weight 192 pounds
Arm length 29 1/2 inches
Hand size 9 1/2 inches
40-yard dash 4.55 seconds (14th this year)
10-yard dash 1.54 seconds (tied No. 4)
Vertical 29.5 inches (No. 21)
Broad jump 9' 7" (No. 19)
Despite neither running back having the most impressive testing results, they were similar in many ways. In their junior seasons, they produced over 1,300 all-purpose yards and at least 13 touchdowns before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Ever since Irving transferred to Oregon as a sophomore from Minnesota, he’s produced at least 1,300 yards a season, and this past year, he had over 1,500 yards.
Although Irving is likely to be drafted somewhere around the fourth round, he could prove to be a steal, just like Williams was for Los Angeles, and the Ravens' front office shouldn't overlook him.
Whether his rookie role complements a veteran or he is used on all three levels (56 catches as a junior), Irving has the potential to make an impact on the field from day one and could be Kyren Williams 2.0 in Baltimore.
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