4 takeaways from Todd McShay's 2020 NFL mock draft

4 takeaways from Todd McShay’s 2020 NFL mock draft

By Bryan Perez | May 2, 2019

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates his first quarter touchdown throw against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers carries the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Running backs are dead, they said! Running backs should never be drafted in the first round, they told me!

Well, that doesn’t appear to be the case in 2020.

McShay has three running backs going in the first round in his mock draft, and it’s hard not to agree. The first one off the board (at No. 23 overall) is Clemson’s Travis Etienne, whose blazing speed and natural instincts scream first-rounder. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor goes next at No. 26; his production is unrivaled in college football. He’s run for 4,171 yards over the last two seasons. Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, at No. 29 overall, finishes off the run on running backs in the top 32.

I’d add Georgia’s D’Andre Swift as a name worthy of the first round, too. In fact, Swift may end up as the top running back in next year’s draft by the time the season ends.

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