Ranking the Top 10 RBs in the 2023 NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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With the 2023 NFL Draft fast approaching, it’s time to come up with some official rankings for the prospects at each position. We’ve already gone over the quarterbacks in this class, and today, we will be ranking the top 10 RBs in this year’s draft class.
1. Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson is one of probably three prospects in this draft class that we can somewhat confidently say has the talent to eventually be the best player at his position. The Texas Longhorn product combines agility, power, and speed to be a deadly rusher who can pile up yards in a hurry while being a bear for tacklers to bring down.
For the actual draft, ultimately, it is very rare that we see a player with this much potential at the RB position not turn into at least 80% of what was expected. Don’t be surprised if Robinson goes early on in the first round, and he absolutely has a chance to go in the top 10 as well. Keep an eye on the Falcons at No. 8 overall.
Bijan Robinson scouting report
2. Jahmyr Gibbs
While Robinson is the best pure rusher in this class, Gibbs has the best chance to immediately translate into a three-down back at the NFL level. He is on the smaller side at 5’9″, and he measured in at 199 pounds at the combine. However, he can bring terrific speed to the table, and he is the best receiving back in this class as well.
Gibbs should be considered a first-round prospect, and if Robinson goes early in round one, the Alabama product should be on the radar for teams like the Buffalo Bills later on down the board.
3. Zach Charbonnet
Charbonnet isn’t as elite an athlete as some others on this list, but he makes up for it with outstanding power. He’s also an extremely patient runner, waiting for blocks to develop rather than prematurely forcing the issue.
The biggest concern with Charbonnet at the next level is his lack of acceleration and burst out of the line of scrimmage. If he runs into trouble in the NFL, it will be because he simply isn’t fast enough on the field to get past defenders.
4. Tyjae Spears
Tyjae Spears is an explosive rusher with quick feet that allow him to change directions effortlessly. He needs to grow in terms of his prowess as a receiver, but he took major steps forward during 2022 and had multiple strong plays at the Senior Bowl this February as a pass-catcher.
Overall, of the RBs behind Robinson and Gibbs, Spears is the prospect that I would pick to become a future star with his skillset. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him taken within the first 75 picks, even in the second round.
5. Devon Achane
It’s tough to evaluate Devon Achane considering he was playing behind Texas A&M’s offensive line, one of the worst groups in the country. Despite this hurdle, Achane was one of the more exciting players in college football throughout the year.
Achane is an elite athlete, clocking a 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and despite being a smaller back at 5’8 and under 200 pounds, he maintained a strong presence between the tackles with the Aggies. If he can get this to translate to the NFL level, we could have another starting RB on our hands.
6. Deuce Vaughn
Deuce Vaughn is the smallest player we’ve ever seen at the NFL scouting combine, measuring in at 5’5″. This inevitably causes a number of doubts as to how well he will translate to the NFL level, both in terms of talent and durability.
That being said, Vaughn is an elite pass-catcher, and while he probably won’t have much of a role between the tackles, if a team sets up screen passes for him, he can pick up yards in a hurry. It may seem crazy, but he could be a Darren Sproles-esque player in the NFL.
7. Sean Tucker
Fundamentally, Sean Tucker does everything right as a running back. He’s patient, he doesn’t settle for running upright, and he has adequate athleticism needed to accelerate past defenders.
That being said, sometimes, he can wait a little too long in the backfield, and by then, the holes that have been opened for him may already have closed again. He needs to become a little more assertive as a back at the next level.
8. Zach Evans
Zach Evans has all the talent in the world, and honestly, that talent combined with a home run ability that allowed him to average 6.9 yards per carry could have vaulted him into the top 5 of this class.
That being said, injuries are a major concern for Evans. He played 12 games in 2022, but he had nagging injuries throughout the year and only appeared in six games the year before. Additionally, Evans has a fumble issue that needs to be fixed in order to find long-term success in the NFL.
9. Tank Bigsby
In a draft class filled with guys that would have been considered undersized in past years, Tank Bigsby is exactly what his name describes him as. At 6’0 and 210 pounds, Bigsby spent his collegiate years plowing through defenders, but he also showed flashes of elusivity, being able to use creative moves to evade tacklers even within small spaces.
Overall, Bigsby runs into problems because he runs a little too upright rather than staying low to the ground, and he isn’t going to bring much in terms of his pass-catching ability.
10. Roschon Johnson
Since the emergence of Bijan Robinson over the past couple years, Roschon Johnson has fallen under the radar from the Texas Longhorns program, but even in limited time, Johnson has been a very productive runner splitting time with Robinson.
He won’t blow you away with speed, but he is another powerful runner, who made his living breaking tackles to gain extra yards. There isn’t any concern with fumbles either, and he can be a contributor in pass blocking. Don’t expect a star in Johnson, but he can certainly be a viable RB2 for years to come.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.