- The 2022 NFL Draft is Scheduled for April (28-30) in Paradise, Nevada
- Top RB Prospects: Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M) and Kenneth Walker (Michigan State)
- Modern NFL RBs must run, block, and catch with speed, quickness, and power
The 2022 NFL Draft is happening at the end of April (28-30) in Paradise, Nevada, and all thirty-two franchises will be showing up with various needs to address, one of those being a running back to help bolster the offense with a young playmaker who can contribute right away.
The modern NFL running back does a lot more than just run with the football, he also blocks during pass protection as well as catches passes as an outlet receiver and often as a legitimate route-runner, and a few can even pass the ball.
Chances are no running backs will be selected in the early parts of the first round of this draft, but there is no doubt that with this crop of running backs in the draft some will be starting their NFL careers soon, so we take a look at these potential rookies.
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Who Are the Best Running Backs in the 2022 NFL Draft?
There is a talented group of running backs in this 2022 NFL Draft class and during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, many showed off their ability to run fast and dodge quickly as well as catch passes while on the run.
Seen as a top prospect is Isaiah Spiller, the Texas A&M alum who averaged 5.5 yards per carry over three seasons on almost 3,000 total yards on the ground, but also turning heads is Kenneth Walker III who played his senior season at Michigan State and scored 18 rushing TDs.
Here are the top-10 running back prospects for this year’s NFL Draft, but please note that these rankings can shift as the end-of-April event gets closer:
NFL Draft Running Back Rankings
| Rank | 2022 NFL Draft – Running Back Rankings | School |
| 1 | Isaiah Spiller | Texas A&M |
| 2 | Kenneth Walker III | Michigan State |
| 3 | Breece Hall | Iowa State |
| 4 | Kyren Williams | Notre Dame |
| 5 | Dameon Pierce | Florida |
| 6 | Jerome Ford | Cincinnati |
| 7 | Brian Robinson Jr. | Alabama |
| 8 | Tyler Badie | Missouri |
| 9 | James Cook | Georgia |
| 10 | Abram Smith | Baylor |
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Who Will Be the First Running Back Drafted in 2022?
For a rookie running back to be valuable in the pros he has to be ready to go right away, and it looks like Breece Hall who played in the Big 12 at Iowa State could be immediately effective, his 3,941 rushing yards and 302 receiving yards yielding 56 total TDs, a valuable dual threat back.
Our Pick:
Breece Hall, Iowa State
Were Any Running Backs Ever Selected First Overall?
It has been almost a quarter of a century since the last running back was selected first overall, that was when the Cincinnati Bengals took Penn State’s Ki-Jana Carter with the number one pick in the mid-nineties, a back who went on to play in 59 games for three different teams.
Bo Jackson is perhaps the best known of the group, the dual-sport phenom splitting his time between pro football and baseball, constantly wowing fans from both leagues.
Running Backs Selected First Overall
| Year | Running Backs Selected First Overall | NFL Team | School |
| 1995 | Ki-Jana Carte | Bengals | Penn State |
| 1986 | Bo Jackson | Buccaneers | Auburn |
| 1981 | George Rogers | Saints | South Carolina |
| 1980 | Billy Sims | Lions | Oklahoma |
| 1978 | Earl Campbell | Oilers | Texas |
| 1977 | Ricky Bell | Buccaneers | USC |
Who Is the Best Player in the 2022 NFL Draft?
The answer to this question can be debated forever but as with most prospect lists, the cream usually rises to the top and some names have appeared on quite a few draft rankings.
Here are the five top draft prospects in 2022, but keep in mind this list will shift and adjust as the draft gets closer:
| Rank | 2022 NFL Draft – Top-5 Best Overall Players | Position | School |
| 1 | Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE | Michigan |
| 2 | Kyle Hamilton | Safety | Notre Dame |
| 3 | Derek Stingley | Cornerback | LSU |
| 4 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | EGDE | Oregon |
| 5 | Charles Cross | Tackle | Mississippi State |
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How to Watch the 2022 NFL Draft
| 2022 NFL Draft Information | |
| What | 2022 NFL Draft |
| Where | Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada |
| When | Thursday, April 28 Round 1 8 p.m. ET Friday, April 29 Rounds 2-3 7 p.m. ET Saturday, April 30 Rounds 4-7 Noon ET |
| How to watch | ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes |
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Mike Lukas
Expert on NFL
Mike Lukas is a retired standup comedian turned freelance writer now living in Dallas, Texas, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. His love for the game of football and all things Cleveland Browns turned Mike into a pro blogger years ago. Now Mike enjoys writing about all thirty-two NFL teams, hoping to help football gamblers gain a slight edge in their pursuit of the perfect wager. Email: [email protected]
