It's no secret that running backs aren't as highly coveted in the NFL draft as they once were. Look no further than the fact that the position hasn't accounted for a single No. 1 overall pick since 1995 for proof of that.
But even beyond the top pick, running backs simply don't take up nearly as many first-round spots as they used to. In fact, in just the last three years alone, only two have been taken in the first round, both in 2023.
Most pundits figured Bijan Robinson would go early in the first round of the '23 draft, given his accomplishments at Texas. And that's precisely what happened as the Atlanta Falcons scooped him up at No. 8.
The second-best back was believed by many to be Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs, who some called one of the best players in the entire draft regardless of position. That said, however, given the overall downgrading of running backs as a whole and the fact that the teams picking early had other needs, it seemed that Gibbs was destined to fall to the later part of the first round or the early part of the second round.
As it turns out, that's apparently what Jerry Jones was banking on. The Dallas Cowboys held the 26th overall selection in the '23 draft. And according to Gibbs himself, they were ready to make him the second option behind Tony Pollard after releasing Ezekiel Elliott.
But that obviously never happened, as the Detroit Lions shocked the world by taking Gibbs 12th overall, a move that's clearly worked out for Dan Campbell.
Jahymr Gibbs "knew for a fact" the Cowboys would take him at No. 26 in the 2023 NFL Draft
Jahmyr Gibbs was almost drafted to the Cowboys or Bengals π΅βπ«
β ππ₯π’ ππ’π±π―π¬π¦π± ππ¦πͺπ’π° π° (@the_det_times) November 15, 2024
π₯: RichardShermanPOD | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/cGtdfKoYhR
In an appearance on The Richard Sherman Podcast, Gibbs told the Super Bowl-winning cornerback that he was as surprised as anyone when the Lions took him at No. 12, as he had essentially prepared himself to go 26th to the Cowboys.
"To Detroit, no, I really didnβt . I knew they liked me, but you know when you go on a visit, it seems like they all like you,β Gibbs said.
βIt was crazy; I knew for a fact Dallas was going to get me at 26 if I was still there, and a couple other places like Cincinnati was going to get me. I think they were going to trade up to like 18 or something around that range. I didnβt think I was going to go 12th."
The Bengals did end up getting a running back, selecting Illinois' Chase Brown in the fifth round at No. 163 overall. And that's worked out just fine, as he's become a solid lead back after Cincy traded Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans.
And things have obviously worked out well for Gibbs, who's become one of the best backs in football despite sharing touches with David Montgomery.
Since the start of the 2023 season, Gibbs ranks 10th among all NFL running backs in overall rushing yards (1,672), second in yards per carry (5.5), fifth in rushing touchdowns (17), and eighth in total yards from scrimmage (2,190).
As for the Cowboys, they also ended up with a running back, drafting Deuce Vaughn at No. 212 overall. But that hasn't worked out at all, as Vaughn has 60 rushing yards to his name in 12 games over the last season and a half.
Pollard, of course, left for the Tennessee Titans, and the Cowboys' dreadful decision to bring Zeke back to town has been an absolute disaster. Rico Dowdle is fine as a backup option, but he's not a true RB1, as evidenced by the fact that Dallas has the second-worst rushing attack in the NFL this year at 83.7 yards per game.
The Jahmyr Gibbs scenario isn't nearly as bad as something like the Cowboys not signing Derrick Henry, as Jones obviously had no control over who the Lions drafted. It's simply another case of what could have been, a list that's seemingly growing by the week.