Le'Veon Bell could get paid this offseason. The free-agent running back is one of the best weapons in the NFL because of what he can do outside of running the football. He is a tremendous pass-catcher -- he grabbed 75 or more passes in three different seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- and a solid blocker, which means he never has to miss a snap.
But there is always value in the NFL draft, and the 2019 class is no different. Teams can find good players -- at a fraction of what Bell will cost.
So let's evaluate the running backs in this class to see if we can find candidates who could make a dynamic impact in the league. Here's my ranking of the top three-down prospects at the position as we head into the NFL combine in Indianapolis:
1. Josh Jacobs, Alabama
What stands out: Explosion and versatility
Jacobs has the juice of a No. 1 back with a legit 5-foot-10, 216-pound frame. The jump cuts are there to shake defenders. So is the burst -- he can go. And don't forget about the pop in his pads. Jacobs will drop the hammer on contact. He also is a threat as a pass-catcher, with soft hands and the versatility to catch the rock out of multiple alignments.
Just check out the play below against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff. It's a man-coverage beater with Jacobs releasing on the flat route -- a classic scheme to get him loose. But after the catch? There's the explosive ability in the open field, and you better be prepared to square him up. That's nasty for a back who has low tread on his tires -- only 252 career carries in three college seasons. With pro-ready skills that flash on tape -- plus advanced technique in pass protection -- Jacobs could be a first-round pick.
Tua Tagovailoa throws to Josh Jacobs in the flat and he takes it 27 yards for a score, bulldozing the Oklahoma defender in his path.
2. David Montgomery, Iowa State
What stands out: Lower-body balance
Montgomery handled the heavy volume at Iowa State -- a combined 515 carries in 2017 and '18 -- showing the balance to slip tackles at 5-foot-11 and 216 pounds. He is tough at the point of attack. He has some wiggle too, along with the patience to stack behind his blockers before finding daylight to finish. Take a look at the touchdown run against Washington State in the Alamo Bowl. (See the clip below.) Although Montgomery doesn't display top-end speed to create consistent explosive runs at the next level -- and we'll see him run a 40-yard dash in Indy -- his running style is an ideal fit for the pro game.
Iowa State running back David Montgomery goes through defenders for the 8-yard touchdown run.
Montgomery has shown the ability to handle blitz pickup in pass protection, and he looks natural catching the ball on film. Flip that forward to the NFL screen game, the underneath routes and the quick arrow/option routes. That will allow him to win within the route vs. linebackers and use his movement skills after the catch.
3. Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic
What stands out: Stop-and-go ability
Singletary handled a monster workload for the Owls, posting 562 carries over the past two seasons and racking up a whopping 54 rushing touchdowns. Singletary, who has drawn comps to Buffalo Bills star LeSean McCoy because of his running style, has ridiculous body control and shake at the point of attack. Highlight-reel stuff. He plays bigger than his listed 5-foot-9, 200-pound frame. That shows up in the tight red area of the field, given Singletary's ability to break tackles and find the end zone, just as he did against UCF here:
FAU RB Devin Singletary sheds a tackle and scores on a 9-yard touchdown run, knotting the game at 14-14.
Singletary is a willing blocker in pass protection, and despite his limited numbers as a receiver -- only six receptions in 2018 -- the traits are there for him to advance his overall game. That's the stop-and-go speed, the lateral movement and the quick burst to get in and out of cuts. Project that forward to the underneath option/angle routes that are matchup killers in the NFL. He is an impressive player who left defenders lunging on tackle attempts all over the field on his tape.
4. Damien Harris, Alabama
What stands out: Old-school pro traits
Harris has the makeup of a classic runner in Nick Saban's program. He has power to push through contact and the vision to find an open door. Harris (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) is a decisive runner too, with sweet feet that help him work through the wash. And while he doesn't flash the explosion of his teammate Jacobs, he can bust through to the second level. Check out this touchdown run against Ole Miss on a split-flow, zone scheme. Attack the edge and go:
Damien Harris blows past the Ole Miss defense for a 43-yard Alabama touchdown.
In pass protection, Harris is going to compete, attacking blitzing defenders and squaring his pads. As a receiver, he was really only used on underneath routes and checkdowns. Think quick tosses underneath, screens, checkdowns and sit routes in the pro game that create hi-lo reads for the quarterback. Harris doesn't have a deep collection of "wow" plays on the film, but I see the skills that translate to the position in the NFL game as a potential Day 2 pick.
5. Darrell Henderson, Memphis
What stands out: Home run ability
With 41 runs of 15 yards or more last season, Henderson is the cleanup hitter in the lineup. He gets to the hole quickly, then hits the gas; he averaged 8.9 yards per carry. Though Henderson (5-9, 200) lacks top-end flexibility as a runner in the open field, his explosive plays pop on the tape, as does his ability to slip tackles and finish. Take a look at this run against UConn:
Bryce Love rushes 22 yards and just gets inside the pylon for a Stanford TD and officials say play stands after review.
Even with the top-tier production Henderson racked up for the Tigers, the next step will be advancing his game in pass protection. He has a ways to go there, just because he wasn't asked to do it in college. If he can do that with consistency, he could become a three-down back.
6. Miles Sanders, Penn State
What stands out: Footwork
Sanders had 220 carries last season, but he had just 56 carries from 2016 to '17 as he sat behind Saquon Barkley. While Sanders doesn't flash the long speed to burn past opposing defenders, he has a solid frame (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) and the light feet to dart through creases. He has some shake -- and vision -- to leave opposing tacklers in the dust. Check out this touchdown run against Michigan State:
That's good football. At Penn State, Sanders caught the ball on swings, flat routes and the quick inside option cut. And he finished 2018 with 24 receptions. My thinking here? If he lands in the right system, he has the receiving skills and the lateral movement to develop into a pass-game threat who can operate underneath. Catch and run. Plus, the frame is there for Sanders to operate in pass protection at the NFL level. He is an intriguing prospect who might not produce monster testing numbers at the combine, but he did put together some quality film last season.
7. Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
What stands out: Impact in the screen game
Williams (5-9, 200) is an extremely patient runner with big-play ability and the receiving chops to run every route or make an impact in the screen game. Check this move -- and the finish -- on the touchdown off a screen against Auburn:
Notre Dame RB Dexter Williams finds a wipe-open hole and speeds 97 yards downfield and into the end zone for a touchdown.
With more than 1,700 rushing yards and 278 receiving yards last season, Williams played a three-down role for the Aggies. And the system he played in will translate to the NFL. Think receiving-game production as a pro back who can hold his ground in pass protection.
8. Bryce Love, Stanford
What stands out: Acceleration
Love suffered a torn ACL in his final game at Stanford, and he doesn't have the frame of a three-down back in the league (5-10, 200). But his film showcases his acceleration, sudden movements and long speed to rip past defenders. He is going to beat linebackers and defensive backs at the point of attack, then shift into another gear to produce an explosive play. Check out this touchdown run against Oregon:
Elijah Holyfield charges down the sideline and somehow keeps himself in bounds before diving for the pylon to make it 14-3 Bulldogs.
Love caught only 49 passes in his four-year career, and I have questions about his ability to match up in pass protection against blitzing NFL linebackers and safeties. But we know he can run it when healthy; he rushed for more than 2,000 yards in 2017. Love has the skill set to expand his résumé as a receiver and make an impact in multiple situations.
9. Elijah Holyfield, Georgia
What stands out: Short-area quickness and finishing power
Holyfield played in a five-star backfield during his time at Georgia, but the 5-foot-11, 215-pound junior rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. The traits that immediately jump on the film? It's the suddenness, the lightning-fast feet that allow him to skip past tacklers and then display the thundering power to finish runs. Just watch the sudden move here to dodge the Vanderbilt defender and bounce to the outside on the touchdown run:
James Williams shows off his hops by leaping over a defender in an effort to gain extra yards.
With only five grabs in 2018, we have to project how Holyfield will transition in the NFL on passing downs. He has the pro body and physicality to stand up in pass protection, however. If given third-down reps as a rookie, he'll get opportunities to catch the ball on shallow routes.
10. James Williams, Washington State
What stands out: Impact on third downs
With a lean 6-foot, 205-pound frame, Williams caught 83 passes in Mike Leach's offense last season. Eighty-three! Swings, unders, bubbles, the wheel off the mesh concept -- Leach schemed up opportunities and outlet throws to put the ball in Williams' hands. He is slippery in the open field too, and he displayed a variety of moves to make defenders miss in space, like this hurdle against Colorado off the swing route:
Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams snatches a one-handed screen pass, sheds multiple tackles and muscles his way into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.
Williams' receiving production stands out on film, but he also can hold his own in pass protection. I project the Washington State product finding an immediate NFL role as a third-down back. That's why we have to see if he gets the opportunity with a team to carry the rock on early downs and showcase the power to run with volume inside the tackles.
11. Dexter Williams, Notre Dame
What stands out: Burst to the edge
After getting only 99 carries in his first three years in South Bend, Williams had 158 in 2018, putting up 995 yards. He added 16 receptions for 133 yards. A high-cut runner at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, Williams has the potential to be a three-down back in the pros. Watch this 97-yard score against Virginia Tech:
One cut and a house call. Though Williams still needs to develop in pass protection and show progress as a receiver, the potential Day 3 pick has the size, speed and running style that will create opportunities to earn reps as a rookie.
Travis Homer zooms 64 yards for an electric touchdown run to give Miami a 14-point lead in the third quarter.
12. Travis Homer, Miami (Fla.)
What stands out: Pass protection
At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds with only above-average speed, Homer isn't going to check all the boxes for pro scouts. But as a Day 3 pick who showcased his ability as a three-down back? Yeah, Homer is a fit given his production in zone schemes, his ability to cut to open grass and the high-level pass pro that I see on the film.
With some added wiggle to his game, like we see on this touchdown run vs. Pitt (see the video below), Homer also brings experience and coverage ability on special teams. And that creates opportunity at the next level. He's a solid player.
Austin Walter catches the pass and slips away from the clutches of a LA Tech defender to score a 68-yard Rice touchdown.
13. Austin Walter, Rice
What stands out: Formation flexibility
The Rice product posted more than 1,000 total yards in 2018, but I went to check out his film because of the receiving numbers -- 44 grabs, 525 yards, two touchdowns. The surprise here? Seeing Walter flexed out from the formation and running the route tree at 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds.
Want an example? Watch him winning on the slot fade against Louisiana Tech. (Check out the video below.) The guy can scoot. And while he is a little tight-hipped in the run game, let's tag Walter as a late-round/priority free-agent sleeper at this point in the draft process.
Miles Sanders avoids defenders and gets free for 48 yards and a Penn State touchdown.