Running back may not be a pressing need for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it is a position that will have to be added to. The good news is that this year's draft class is loaded at this position.
ESPN's draft analysts Jordan Reid, Field Yates, and Matt Miller each recently answered a series of draft-specific questions, one of which was highlighting the "most fascinating thing" heard following pro day workouts.
Reid chose the depth of this year's running back class. Coming into the pre-draft process, it was known that there was a lot of talent at this position, and in the months that followed, that opinion hasn't changed.
"Coming out of pro days, the league is still very high on this running back class," wrote Reid. "I currently have 32 running backs with draftable grades on my board, and this year could surpass the 2017 mark of 30 rushers drafted."
For some context, having 32 running backs with draftable grades is like having almost two draft classes in one, and as Reid also mentions, this depth could impact where these backs are taken.
The top prospects within this position group, like Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton, are still going to be taken early, but because of the overall depth of the class, that factor could impact how teams go about addressing certain needs early on.
"This also makes for any interesting scenario in the first two rounds," said Reid about the depth. "A high-ranked executive told me this about the class: "I can draft another position and still come back and get a running back in this class in the third or fourth round because it's so loaded."
The Jaguars are positioned well at running back with Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne, but those two and Keilan Robinson are the only backs on the roster currently. Looking ahead to 2026, Etienne will be a free agent, and Bigbsy will be in the final year of his deal.
The running backs are going to play a vital role in getting the offense as a whole back on track, including the passing game. A strong running game helps keep the offense out of predictable passing situations, not to mention that in Liam Coen's scheme, the running and passing game concepts build off of each other.
In addition to that, as we saw in Tampa Bay last season, the running backs in Coen's offense can play an important role in the passing game as well.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Deep running back class for Jaguars to pick from
