The Jacksonville Jaguars need to get James Robinson a good backup.
When discussing the Jacksonville Jaguars roster needs, quarterback comes first. Left tackle and defensive end come either second or third, and then, maybe cornerback or safety. One that isn’t brought up much is the backup running back position due to the success James Robinson is enjoying in 2020.
It’s unlikely the ‘Jags’ expected undrafted free agent to become one of the best running back in the NFL in his rookie year. All in all, Illinois State standout has racked up 212 carries for 968 yards and seven touchdowns. Moreover, he’s been a key cog in the passing game and has hauled in 42 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns.
Robinson has been pretty durable in 2020 and is a candidate for the Offensive Rookie of the Year awards and a Pro Bowl designation. He should be the team’s workhorse running back for years to come as long as he stays fresh and healthy. For that to happen, the ‘Jags’ have to find him a competent backup that can help him catch his breath from time to time and take his place in case he needs to miss a couple of games.
This season, Robinson has had 90 percent of the team’s carries and that kind of load could wear him down in the long term. It’s true the Jaguars don’t have someone else to turn to right now, and they will keep relying on him for the remainder of the year. However, they need to find someone to back him up in the offseason. Here are the top four candidates.
The draft offers a wide array of choices for the Jaguars when it comes to the running back position. Although it wouldn’t be wise to use a first-round selection on a ball-carrier, the third and fourth round of the Player Selection Meeting will offer some enticing options.
Chuba Hubbard of Oklahoma State should be available in the middle of the draft. As a sophomore, he racked up 328 carries for 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns. Even though he hasn’t been as productive in 2020, he’s still displayed the ability to run the ball well. He needs to work on his pass-protection skills, but he could definitely help the Jaguars next year.
Devontae Booker had a solid rookie season with the Denver Broncos in 2016. The Utah standout started six games and ran the ball 174 times for 612 yards and four touchdowns. However, he wasn’t able to sustain the success he had in his first year and was relegated to a backup role for the rest of his tenure in Denver.
Booker signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders this past offseason and has thrived when given the chance. In 2020, he’s racked up 75 carries for 376 yards and three touchdowns. He also showed he can carry the load when he ran for 81 yards on 16 carries against his former team in Week 10. He’s set to be a free agent once again at the end of the season.
Zamir White has had limited opportunities for the Bulldogs in 2020 but has made the most out of them. The Georgia running back has racked up 121 carries for 614 yards and nine touchdowns. He has the speed, agility, and balance to run the ball efficiently and excels in pass blocking.
Although White needs to work on his route-running, he’s the kind of player that could get off the bench, make a few plays, and keep James Robinson fresh. This Jacksonville team currently has one third-round pick and two fourth-round selections, they could use one to upgrade their backup running back position.
Back when running back Le’Veon Bell opted to sit-out the 2018 season, it looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ running game had suffered a serious blow. Nevertheless, they trusted then-sophomore James Conner and their offense ranked seventh in rushing touchdowns that year. All in all, he racked up 215 carries for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Steelers have given Conner a smaller workload these past two seasons, but he’s still been effective when he’s had his name called. He’s set to become a free agent in 2021 and should command a reasonable salary despite the fact the demand for his services might be high.