6 RBs Who Were Hurt By The Draft

Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA Today Sports

The NFL Draft can have a big impact on player value. Below are six running backs who were hurt by the draft.

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Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta

Tyler Allgeier got Tre Masoned. After Tre Mason’s successful rookie season in 2014, the Rams took Todd Gurley in the first round of the draft. In the same way, after Allgeier’s successful rookie season, the Falcons rewarded Allgeier by selecting the top running back in the draft, Bijan Robinson, with the eighth pick in the draft. Allgeier is still a quality injury-away running back but is not the potential rushing champion he was cast to be in some early projections.

Ken Walker Jr. and Zach Charbonnet, Seattle

Seattle selecting Zach Charbonnet was the second most surprising running back selection in the draft after Detroit selected Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round. Charbonnet was one of the best running back candidates in this class to be selected on day two with a week one starting opportunity. Instead, Charbonnet enters the Seattle backfield with Ken Walker, Seattle’s second-round pick in 2022. Charbonnet is falling well into the second round of Superflex rookie drafts since the NFL Draft.

Walker entered the offseason locked into a starting role, but the Charbonnet selection will create some type of workshare between the two. Walker was a top-five running back in Dynasty prior to the draft and should fall closer to RB10, with a much lower ceiling.

D'Andre Swift, Detroit

D’Andre Swift entered the NFL offseason with a good opportunity to be a starter in an up-and-coming offense. Things went south quickly, as the team added David Montgomery during free agency and then drafted Jahmyr Gibbs with the 14th pick in the NFL Draft. Gibbs was drafted ahead of his expectation, which created a big question about Swift’s status with the team. Swift was then traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a future fourth-round pick. While there was excitement about the trade, Swift enters another crowded depth chart, with Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott in the Philadelphia backfield. Detroit lead the league in running back points in 2022, while Philadelphia ranked 24th. Philadelphia was in the bottom quarter of teams in expected running back points per game in 2022, which is a big downgrade from the rich running back scoring environment in Detroit. Swift will be a free agent after the 2023 season and is a clear sell candidate in the aftermath of this trade.