Positional Rankings: Jadan Baugh dominates the 2027 NFL Draft class of running backs

15 running backs have been watched and ranked. Enjoy.

As summer scouting has trekked along, my big board has reached nearly 100 names at this point, and more than enough running backs have been watched to stack up who my top ball carriers in the 2027 NFL Draft are in a new positional rankings article.

Will there be a top-five potential back in this year’s class like the past two years with Ashton Jeanty and Jeremiyah Love, or is this just a group of strong, sturdy running backs who will find a role at the NFL level? I’ve enjoyed this class quite a lot, and feel like all 10 mentioned in this rankings piece will find a role at the NFL level.

However, who is the cream at the top of the class, and who rounds out the top-10 as backs who hope to find a role in a committee at the next level?

Let’s dive into the criteria of my grading, the honorable mentions who just missed the cut, my top-10 running backs, and how I have these ball carriers tiered entering the 2026 season.

Table of Contents

• The Criteria

• Honorable Mentions: Just missed the top-10

• Top 10 RBs of the 2027 NFL Draft

• RB Tiering

The Criteria

I break every position down into five key categories (this is not new for those who have been listening to the scouting series of the Daft on Draft Podcast). For running backs, the categories are: ball-carrier vision, elusiveness/creativity, contact balance, explosiveness, and passing-game impact.

Let’s break those down a bit further.

Ball-Carrier Vision

The key trait for a running back: vision.

If a running back is constantly running into the back of their blockers, running with horse blinders on once they get through the first level, or has no patience to feel out backside cuts, then they fall into the dime-a-dozen bucket of ball carrier evaluation.

Not only does a back need patience to let his blockers set up their landmarks, but they have to constantly have the feel to use their lower half to help set up those rush lanes and pull in second-level defenders as well. Backs have to be able to adjust on the fly as well, finding creases when their landmark may have been cratered.

Then when a back gets through the first level, some just put their head down and churn out yards. Others keep their eyes open and continue to seek out creative solutions to finding more green grass. That matters.

Elusiveness/Creativity

A bit of a carryover from the last category, running backs are often asked to create their own positive situations out of absolutely nothing.

How well can a running back make big defensive linemen miss in a phone booth in the backfield? When defenders are closing down on them in the open field, do they have the fluidity and elusiveness to shake them out of their cleats? The explosiveness to potentially even hurdle them?

This creativity to create a situation for oneself is a trait that 2026 NFL Draft third overall pick Jeremiyah Love thrived at during his time at Notre Dame.

Contact Balance

Runners who bring a level of physicality to the football field will have touched the soft spot in my heart. Contact balance is not just running through wimpy tacklers, however. That is just one part of it.

The ability to absorb contact without complete deceleration or the core strength to stay the course despite taking on contact is the bigger part of displaying contact balance, however.

Explosiveness

This trait is threefold when breaking down a running back:

1. The burst and instant acceleration off the back foot when an initial rush lane develops

2. The ability to beat defenders to the edge when he is forced to bounce outside

3. 3. An evident third gear when they get into green grass to pull away from defenders and break away.

Passing-Game Impact

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but is broken down into two parts: ability as a receiver out of the backfield, and the ability to stand in and pass protect your ass off.

As a receiver, is a running back a liability when targeting them? Some backs are not asked to do much more than run checkdowns and the occasional option route, but that’s sometimes by scheme, so you have to project a bit. However, the running backs that can be isolated in the passing game, have touches designated for them, and even show the ability to win down the field stand out here.

In terms of pass protection, I first and foremost look to make sure there is at least an effort. If a running back is willing to at least throw their weight around, I take note of that. Beyond that, however, it’s still important to see a running back not blow assignments, drop their eyes or throw wide hands at pass rushers bearing down on them.

Just missed the cut

Raleek Brown, Texas

Brown is explosive and crafty in the open field. He’s got the potential to be a big-time riser after transferring to Texas. He needs to slow down his process quite a bit first, however, and needs to learn how to pass protect.

Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech

There are just no standout traits to the game of Haynes. He’s just fine.

Tre Wisner, Florida State

While I admire the eyes and vision of the former Texas running back, any ounce of explosiveness in his body looks zapped in a frame that already does not hold up well through contact or in pass protection.

Isaac Brown, Louisville

While Brown has the straight-line explosiveness, he has a negligible impact in the passing game, does not hold up to contact well, and presses a bit too much rather than running with patience and a process.