Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott is rapidly becoming one of the most popular players in the NFL Draft. The Cowboys and Eagles are very interested, and both teams pick in the top 10. The Bears, who pick 11th, like Elliott, too, and his old position coach at OSU is now in charge of running backs in Chicago.
Even NFL Draft experts approve of Ezekiel Elliott as a top-10 pick
Conventional wisdom has been shattered. Draft Twitter will never be the same.
But wait? Isn’t drafting running backs in the top half, much less the top 10, picks of the first round something you just don’t do? Kind of. But Elliott is a different kind of player, maybe one of the best running back prospects of all time. He’s even dangerous on the field when he doesn’t have the ball. The Rams decision to draft Todd Gurley with the 10th pick last year also changed how teams value running backs. Sure, most of the players at that position are interchangeable, but you can’t understate the impact of a truly transcendent player, no matter what position he plays, and Elliott is that kind of player.
As a side bonus, whichever team drafts Elliott will automatically get someone miles ahead of their incumbent offensive coordinator. Seriously, he knows the game that well and you might as well let him call the plays.
THE BRONCOS ARE STILL CHEAP: Von Miller and the Broncos are headed for a showdown. Miller is skipping the team’s offseason workouts this month and maybe beyond that, as is tradition with superstars who get the franchise tag. The difference here is that Denver seems less willing to blink on the kind of contract Miller’s camp wants, and arguably deserves.
MOCK DRAFT MONDAY: The first round looks a lot different after last week’s big trade.
WHERE TO GET A RECEIVER: NFL teams should think twice before drafting a wide receiver in the first round. The first round of the NFL draft has produced some very good receivers over the years, but the smart teams find their receivers in the rounds after that.
HOYER CUT: Texas cut Brian Hoyer. Who needs a backup? The Jets and Steelers are reportedly interested.
ANONYMOUS SCOUTS: The psychology of anonymous scouts and the NFL draft. Anonymous scouts say the darnedest things, terrible, dumb things. Doug Farrar has a peak at why these guys do it.
TRADE DOWN BROWNS: The Browns kinda, maybe want to trade down from the second pick. And it’s not a terrible idea. The Cowboys, Eagles and Jets are all considered potential suitors according to Peter King.
SHADY’S STILL IN THE WOODS: LeSean McCoy bar fight case to be reviewed by Attorney General’s office. Shady and everyone else involved in the incident are “not totally cleared.” This seems like a waste of time, and it is! Pressure from the Philadelphia police union is behind the AG’s investigation.
TESTIFY, JIMMY: Jimmy Haslam doesn’t want to go to court. The Browns owner is doing everything he can to get out of testifying in a civil suit against his company Pilot Flying J, this one filed by a trucking company that got bilked in Pilot’s fuel rebate scam.
TERRIBLE UNIFORM CHOICES: The NFL is making the Cardinals wear yellow jerseys for those stupid Color Rush uniforms. A uniform gimmick gone too far.
BRONCOS & HILLMAN TALKING: Talks between the Denver Broncos and running back Ronnie Hillman are “heating up.” Could Hillman be returning to the Broncos?
TIME TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE: The NFL must address gun awareness and conflict resolution among its young players. The league’s player development process cannot afford to overlook the Will Smith tragedy.
COMPLETE B.S.: Made up facts you need to know about the top prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft. Impress your friends with totally made up trivia about the biggest names in the NFL Draft.
PITTY THE TITANS FANS: Nissan Stadium accidentally turned the sprinklers on during family movie night. You had one job!
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