Last week in a story on Kareem Hunt I posted the rookie numbers of all third-round running backs drafted since 2000. A reader asked about the second-rounders. I'm posting those numbers, interesting since four college runners were drafted in the second round of April's draft.
While the last three drafts have produced three third-rounders who went over 1,000 total yards as rookies -- David Johnson in 2015, and Hunt and Alvin Kamara last year -- the numbers aren't as encouraging for players selected a round earlier. At least the most recent ones.
Since 2000, nine second-round running backs have gone over 1,000 total yards as rookies. But there haven't been any the last two years. The best was Joe Mixon a year ago, with a relatively disappointing 913 total yards and 4 TDs. The best rookie in 2016 from the second round was Derrick Henry, and he totaled just 627 yards and 5 TDs.
| SECOND-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 2000-2017 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Pick | Player | Run | Rec | Total | TD |
| 2002 | 51 | Clinton Portis, Den. | 1508 | 364 | 1872 | 17 |
| 2008 | 44 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 1238 | 477 | 1715 | 12 |
| 2013 | 61 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 1178 | 257 | 1435 | 11 |
| 2006 | 60 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 941 | 436 | 1377 | 16 |
| 2001 | 38 | Anthony Thomas, Chi. | 1183 | 178 | 1361 | 7 |
| 2014 | 55 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 1124 | 215 | 1339 | 9 |
| 2013 | 48 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 860 | 399 | 1259 | 8 |
| 2013 | 37 | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 695 | 514 | 1209 | 8 |
| 2015 | 36 | T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 740 | 279 | 1019 | 3 |
| 2009 | 53 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 637 | 308 | 945 | 4 |
| 2004 | 43 | Julius Jones, Dall. | 819 | 107 | 926 | 7 |
| 2017 | 48 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 626 | 287 | 913 | 4 |
| 2001 | 58 | Travis Henry, Buff. | 729 | 179 | 908 | 4 |
| 2015 | 54 | Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 597 | 183 | 780 | 3 |
| 2008 | 55 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 454 | 273 | 727 | 0 |
| 2013 | 58 | Montee Ball, Den. | 559 | 145 | 704 | 4 |
| 2014 | 54 | Bishop Sankey, Tenn. | 569 | 133 | 702 | 2 |
| 2011 | 62 | Daniel Thomas, Mia. | 581 | 72 | 653 | 1 |
| 2016 | 45 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 490 | 137 | 627 | 5 |
| 2005 | 44 | J.J. Arrington, Ariz. | 370 | 139 | 509 | 2 |
| 2010 | 51 | Toby Gerhart, Minn. | 322 | 167 | 489 | 1 |
| 2004 | 41 | Tatum Bell, Den. | 396 | 80 | 476 | 3 |
| 2002 | 56 | Ladell Betts, Wash. | 307 | 154 | 461 | 1 |
| 2017 | 41 | Dalvin Cook, Minn. | 354 | 90 | 444 | 2 |
| 2014 | 57 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 333 | 68 | 401 | 4 |
| 2007 | 63 | Brandon Jackson, G.B. | 267 | 130 | 397 | 1 |
| 2001 | 49 | LaMont Jordan, NYJ | 292 | 44 | 336 | 2 |
| 2006 | 45 | LenDale White, Tenn. | 244 | 60 | 304 | 0 |
| 2002 | 54 | Maurice Morris, Sea. | 153 | 25 | 178 | 1 |
| 2004 | 55 | Greg Jones, Jac. | 162 | 13 | 175 | 3 |
| 2007 | 50 | Chris Henry, Tenn. | 119 | 53 | 172 | 2 |
| 2012 | 61 | LaMichael James, S.F. | 125 | 29 | 154 | 0 |
| 2013 | 62 | Christine Michael, Sea. | 79 | 0 | 79 | 0 |
| 2012 | 50 | Isaiah Pead, St.L. | 54 | 16 | 70 | 0 |
| 2011 | 56 | Shane Vereen, N.E. | 57 | 0 | 57 | 1 |
| 2011 | 57 | Mikel Leshoure, Det. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 38 | Ryan Williams, Ariz. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 58 | Ben Tate, Hou. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 59 | Montario Hardesty, Clev. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 49 | Kenny Irons, Cin. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 54 | Eric Shelton, Car. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 34 | DeShaun Foster, Car. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The standout season of recent years was 2013, which produced three backs who put up at least 1,200 total yards: LeVeon Bell, Giovani Bernard and Eddie Lacy. But most of the best second-rounders came from a decade or so ago, guys like Clinton Portis, Matt Forte and Maurice Jones-Drew.
This year's second-rounders were Nick Chubb (pictured), Ronald Jones, Kerryon Johnson and Derrius Guice. At least a couple of those guys might be immediate starters; it's a good rookie class. But they'll be bucking recent odds if they do make a big impact in 2018.
--Andy Richardson