Oakland Raiders: Five potential Draft Day running back targets

Nick Chubb (University of Georgia)

We haven’t gotten to see what Chubb could do as a team’s featured back, given that he split carries in the backfield with Sony Michel over the last three seasons – and with some guy named Todd Gurley in his freshman year.

However, even in part-time duty as a senior, Chubb averaged 6.0 yards per carry on his way to 1,345 yards and 15 touchdowns. His efforts in 2017 pushed his four-year totals to 4,769 yards – a career average of 6.3 yards per carry – and 44 touchdowns.

All in part-time duty.

At five-foot-eleven, 228 pounds, Chubb is a physical runner with 4.5 speed. He’s powerful at the point of attack and his compact frame makes it easy for him to absorb hits and still gain yards after first contact.

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He’s got decent enough speed to get to the edge and turn the corner, and the power to shake off tacklers. He’s also a patient, disciplined runner between the tackles, using superior footwork to get around tacklers, rather than simply trying to bounce outside at the first sign of trouble.

After tearing ligaments in his knee as a sophomore – an injury that limited him to just six games – he returned to play in every game for Georgia in his junior and senior seasons. Although, many are quick to point out, that he lacks the explosiveness he had before the injury.

One anonymous AFC Scouting Director said, “I thought he was special before he tore up his knee. I don’t see special anymore, but I do see a solid runner.”

Special or not, Chubb has the size and speed to be a very productive running back in Oakland’s backfield for a while. He very closely mirrors Lynch as a back, and perhaps more than anybody else on this list, would most closely resemble him on the field.

But, scouts are pegging him as a potential second or third-round pick, so like Penny, McKenzie and Gruden will need to act early if they’re going to roll the dice on him.