The 2025 NFL Draft class is starting to take shape, and that means we’re getting a clearer picture of some of the top prospects and the position groups with the most depth.
The running back, tight end and offensive tackle positions seem to be the deepest and strongest on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, the edge defender group is as deep as we’ve seen in several years, dominating the projected top 50. There are also more impact defensive backs this year than a year ago, with plenty of options on all three days of the draft, specifically on Days 2 and 3.
Here are PFF’s top running back prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, along with some initial scouting notes courtesy of lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema.
For the full ranking of draft prospects, along with their three-year player grades and position rankings, click here.
1. HB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Jeanty is a total-package backfield playmaker with impressive balance, footwork, vision, explosiveness and big-play ability — reminiscent of Alvin Kamara. He is a first-round offensive weapon who can succeed behind any blocking scheme.
2. HB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Hampton is one of the class’ most physically gifted running backs with his combination of size, explosiveness and lower-body strength. He can be a productive slasher type of runner behind zone schemes, but his overall vision could make him a boom-or-bust producer, depending on his offensive line.
3. HB Cameron Skattebo, Arizona State
Skattebo plays the game in a manner that is easy to love: with a massive chip on his shoulder. NFL teams will gravitate toward his mentality, balance, tackle-breaking ability and after-contact consistency. He has the physical makeup of a three-down back.
4. HB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Judkins is a strong north-to-south runner who generates impressive speed-to-power for consistent yards after the catch. However, his game lacks the creativity needed to consistently win in the NFL, independent of his offensive line. Behind a good line, he could rack up yards. Behind a subpar one, he could struggle to stand out.
5. HB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Sampson is a speedster who pairs explosiveness with patience and vision. He has big-play potential behind any blocking scheme and could develop into a plus receiver, though he must cut down on fumbles.
6. HB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Johnson is a physically gifted running back who excels with the ball in his hands. As an early-down player, he can be successful behind any blocking scheme with good vision, light footwork and impressive burst and power. However, his lack of polish and reliability in third-down situations could keep him from being an every-down running back.
7. HB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Henderson, when playing confidently, shines with his agility and long speed. He lacks some size for tackle-breaking and pass-blocking, but he remains a high-effort player in those areas. He seems like a good speed component of an NFL committee, including for receiving work out of the backfield.
8. HB RJ Harvey, UCF
Harvey ranks well in PFF’s wins above average metric due to high missed tackles forced averages as a rusher and a receiver, and his production in the passing game. If he plays with more urgency and violence, he could be a productive NFL running back.
9. HB DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Giddens brings good eyes, patience and anticipation to a backfield, finding open space between the tackles with good one-cut ability and long strides for long speed. He needs to play with more violence to gain yards after contact if he is to truly make a name for himself in a running back rotation.
10. HB Devin Neal, Kansas
Neal’s multi-sport background and natural playmaking mentality make him an alluring prospect for any NFL team. He is limited in long speed, but his fancy footwork and vision shine behind man- and gap-blocking concepts. He can also be a good third-down back, bringing receiving and pass-blocking reliability.
11. HB Damien Martinez, Miami (FL)
Martinez is an early-down NFL back with good size and a play style to match, carrying high forced missed tackle averages. He will likely be the physical component of a committee unless he can significantly improve his pass-blocking fundamentals.
12. HB Jaydon Blue, Texas
Blue is one of the best athletes in the 2024 running back class, with top-tier long speed and short-area explosiveness. If he can add strength and improve his ball security, he has the potential to be a home-run threat in a two-back committee.
13. HB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Tuten is a speedy slasher who can succeed behind a zone-blocking scheme, boasting the movement skills to be productive between the tackles if his vision becomes more confident there. He must improve his pass protection and ball security to become a reliable rotational player.
14. HB Brashard Smith, SMU
Smith could be a highly productive receiving back in an offense that emphasizes his skill set and ability to align anywhere on the field. While he likely doesn’t have the frame to handle 20-plus touches per game, he could be a valuable weapon for 10-15, especially with his ability to create mismatches against inside defenders in the passing game.
15. HB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
Scouting summary coming soon!
16. HB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
Hunter is small, but he doesn’t let that hinder his physicality. He is a high-intelligence player with good eyes and anticipation in all phases of the game. His ceiling is limited due to a lack of size and length, but he’s a player every NFL coach would love to have on their roster or practice squad.
17. HB Kalel Mullings, Michigan
Mullings’ game lacks some nuance and patience due to his limited stint as a full-time running back. But his linebacker background, special teams experience, size and mentality for yards after contact should lead to an NFL team taking a chance on him as he develops the rest of his skill set.
18. HB Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Etienne won’t be an every-down back like his older brother, but he has elite burst and quickness for the position. He could thrive as a complementary option in a zone scheme and showed at the Senior Bowl that he may have more receiving upside in the NFL than he did in college.
19. HB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
Monangai runs through defenders as if they insulted his loved ones before the game. That makes for some eye-popping plays, but his lack of overall athleticism for agility and long speed limits his ceiling.
20. HB Marcus Yarns, Delaware
Yarns is a small-school, small-frame backfield playmaker who wins with good long speed and impressive quickness. He can make defenders miss in a phone booth but won’t provide much production after contact in the NFL. He is a Day 3 scatback type of player who brings some plus value in the receiving game.
21. HB Jordan James, Oregon
James’ lack of top-end athletic traits and question marks on passing downs will likely prevent him from being a true lead back. However, his efficiency and back-to-back years of elite rushing production make him a strong rotational option at the next level.
22. HB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
Brooks brings a cerebral mentality to rushing but, in doing so, lacks play speed and north-to-south urgency. He brings plus third-down abilities that will make him an NFL roster option, but he must work on putting his foot in the ground and getting up the field faster.
23. HB Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State
NFL teams will take a good, hard look at Gordon’s scouting report due to his size and production from the 2023 season. But his 2024 tape lacked the violence, decisiveness and agility needed to succeed at the pro level. He will need to retool his approach as a big back to stand out in the league.
24. HB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse
Allen lacks the agility to project as a starting-caliber runner, but his receiving background, long arms, massive hands and willingness in pass protection make him a strong Day 3 candidate as a third-down specialist.
25. HB Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas
Jackson has ideal measurables but limited experience as a quarterback-turned-running back. He’s worth a Day 3 flier, but he will likely need time to develop before coaches trust him with significant rotational volume.
26. HB Jo’Quavious Marks, USC
Marks’ athletic ability makes him an intriguing Day 3 back. To truly stand out in the NFL, he must improve his yards above expectation by becoming more decisive when making defenders miss in space.
27. HB Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida
Johnson is a physical player with a consistent play style that aligns with what most NFL teams seek in a depth or practice squad running back — reliability and effort with some plus third-down attributes. He may never be a lead back, but he could serve as a dependable rotational player who provides a steady presence between the tackles.
28. HB Raheim Sanders, South Carolina
Scouting summary coming soon!
29. HB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
Scouting summary coming soon!
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