#1. Christian McCaffrey – RB – Stanford
Call me crazy, but I see the Patriots taking the running back/do it all player for Stanford, Christian McCaffrey, with their first pick in the draft.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a player that seems like a better fit for the Patriots offense in years. The Patriots have a multitude of running backs, LeGarrette Blount, James White, Dion Lewis (IR), and a few others including D.J. Foster who was signed as an undrafted free agent last year. But if this pick doesn’t make complete sense to anyone else, please call me out.
The entire sporting world knows that the Patriots like to have the football in Tom Brady’s hands. And why wouldn’t you, he may go down as the best NFL QB in history. The fact of the matter however, is that McCaffrey can thrive for them in so many ways.
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McCaffrey is by all means a great ball carrier in all ways you can put it. At 6’0″, 201 pounds, he absolutely is big enough to be running through the tackles and being a 3 down back. Some pundits see him as a change of pace back, but we’ll need to wait and see on that, because I’m not convinced yet.
McCaffrey has been running all over opposing defenses for years now, but he is also a stellar receiver. He consistently lines up in the slot, or even on the outside as a WR for the Cardinal. This is exactly the kind of back that for the past few years has been ideal for the Patriots offense.
Lastly, he is an electric return man. If you live on the east coast, and are still wondering who McCaffrey is, he’s the guy you see on Sportscenter on Sunday Morning running for 120 yards and a TD, catching 7 passes for 100 yards and a TD, and then maybe also putting a stamp on it with a 65 yard punt return for touchdown.
He’s that good.