New England Patriots: 2018 NFL Draft Targets
By Hal Bent
RUNNING BACK:
New England has had great fortune picking running backs in the middle rounds. In 2014 they snagged Super Bowl 51 hero James White with a fourth round pick. He has developed in to a steady contributor on third down and in the passing game. In 2011 they picked 1,000 yard rusher Stevan Ridley in round three and third down back Shane Vereen (one of the unsung stars of Super Bowl 49) in the second round.
In the 2018 NFL Draft there are a number of running backs likely available in the second and third rounds. There’s a chance Sony Michel of Georgia could be available early in the second round. His teammate Nick Chubb is expected to go off the board at the same time. Chubb is a pure rusher with little receiving skill; Michel can catch the ball and could be off the board at the end of the first round.
Derrius Guice of LSU and Kerryon Johnson are both quick, downhill rushers. Both are expected to be around in the second and third round. A sleeper to watch in that range is San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny. He has surprising speed for a big back and has soft hands. He could be targeted with New England’s later second round draft pick as he could be a developmental running back for 2019.