NFL Player News

The Redskins selected Gibson in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 66th overall.

Gibson is yet another versatile offensive weapon emanating from Memphis. He had explosive production in 2019, catching 38 of 56 targets for 735 yards, good for 19.3 yards per reception. He also took 33 carries for 369 yards and four scores. The Tony Pollard comparison is obvious given the same background, but Gibson is more athletic with a denser frame. Gibson is 6-foot and 228 pounds, and he runs a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. He should push for a starting role in three-wide sets right away in Washington and the Redskins can get creative with how they choose to deploy him.

The Ravens selected Dobbins in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 55th overall.

The Ravens' running game was already producing at an elite level, so Dobbins' talents weren't exactly necessary for Baltimore. At the same time, the former Ohio State star is very likely a standout talent at running back, one whose abilities could soon prove superior to those of Mark Ingram, not to mention Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. Dobbins didn't do athletic tests due to an ankle issue at the combine, but he should eventually fill out to about 215 pounds (209 at the combine) on a 5-foot-9 frame and otherwise showed the ability to turn the corner at Ohio State. After running for 4,459 yards (6.2 YPC) for the Buckeyes over 42 games, Dobbins should be expected to turn into a three-down standout in the relatively near future. For the short term, though, it might be difficult to displace a runner as good as Ingram.

The Colts selected Taylor in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 41st overall.

The Colts traded up to make this pick, taking Cleveland's selection at the 41st spot. Taylor (5-foot-10, 226) is likely the best yet of Wisconsin's long line of impressive running backs. Taylor perhaps has pass-catching limitations, but Marlon Mack has played a big rushing-specialist role with the Colts, and Taylor figures to lay claim to most of that work going forward. Taylor needs to stop fumbling and could stand to improve as a receiver, but as a pure runner he is basically infallible. Taylor ran for 6,174 yards (6.7 YPC) and 50 touchdowns in 41 career games, then put up a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Mack's days as starter are numbered.

The Lions selected Swift in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 35th overall.

Swift (5-foot-8, 212) doesn't have the build to imply a big NFL workload, but there's no question that the former Georgia star is a more dangerous runner and pass catcher than incumbent starter Kerryon Johnson. Johnson of course demonstrated his own considerable skill through his first two NFL seasons, but Swift is probably a level or two better. After running for 2,885 yards (6.6 YPC) in 43 career games at Georgia, Swift established himself as a candidate to eventually emerge as the top running back in this class. As much as he won't disappear either way, Johnson is the underdog in this fight.

Thompson is part of a Chiefs backfield that recently added first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire and veteran free agent DeAndre Washington.

Translation: the 2019 sixth-round pick will need to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster. Thompson averaged 3.7 yards on 46 touches as a rookie, though he did at least work ahead of LeSean McCoy as Kansas City's No. 2 running back during the playoffs. Even so, Thompson figures to compete with Washington, Darrel Williams (hamstring) and a few lesser-known running backs for what figures to be one or two roster spots. Edwards-Helaire and Damien Williams will be the ones competing for significant touches.

Williams has a new competitor in the backfield following the Chiefs' selection of LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.

Edwards-Helaire's smaller frame (5-foot-7) and an unconventional offseason ahead for NFL teams could still position Williams to play a key contributing role for the Chiefs during the 2020 season. However, the first-round selection of a running back dims Williams' prospects of serving as the team's workhorse of the future, especially with his contract set to expire following 2020. In addition to rushing for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns on 215 carries (6.6 YPC), Edwards-Helaire reeled in 55 passes at LSU last season, so there's no part of Williams' game that Edwards-Helaire can't match or exceed if he proves he can hold up in pass protection.

The Chiefs selected Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 32nd overall.

Edwards-Helaire is somewhat surprisingly the first running back off the board, but he's clearly a fine selection for the Chiefs even given his prior underdog status. At 5-foot-7, 207 pounds, Edwards-Helaire is densely built despite a frame that looks small at a glance, and his movements are both rapid and precise. Polished as a pass catcher out of the backfield, Edwards-Helaire resembles former Andy Reid star Brian Westbrook in terms of build, athleticism and skill set. Damien Williams was utterly dominant for the Chiefs the last two seasons when healthy, so while CEH is the runner of the future for the Chiefs, Williams could mostly hold him off for another year with better durability luck.

Clement (shoulder) received medical clearance Monday, NJ.com's Mike Kaye reports.

The Super Bowl XXXIX hero has struggled with injuries ever since his big moment, limited to 15 games and 259 rushing yards over the past two seasons. Now that he's been cleared from October surgery, the unrestricted free agent hopes to re-sign with the Eagles. Regardless of where he ends up signing, Clement will need to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster, considering he's played nearly as many snaps on special teams (474) as on offense (497) in three NFL seasons.

Wilson signed his exclusive-rights free agent tender Monday.

Wilson is set to earn $750,000 in 2020 before becoming a restricted free agent next offseason. Though he reached the end zone five times in 2019, Wilson averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and saw his role on offense dwindle down the stretch last season. From Week 14 onward, Wilson's only touch came in the Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, when he recorded a 20-yard reception.

Washington re-signed with the Saints on Thursday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Washington appeared in all 16 of the Saints' regular-season contests in 2019, playing a core role on special teams while contributing as a depth option out of the backfield. Across that span, he carried the ball eight times for 60 yards and caught his only target for six yards. He stands to play a similar role behind Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray in 2020.