NFL Player News

The Chiefs selected Smith in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 228th overall.

Smith is an intriguing prospect. He had considerable pedigree as a four-star wide receiver and was a special-teams standout with Miami before transferring to SMU for his final collegiate season. He converted to running back with the Mustangs and totaled 1,659 yards from scrimmage with 14 touchdowns. It's difficult to get too excited about the potential for a seventh-round selection to immediately contribute, but Smith will be on a historically strong offense with a relatively open backfield.

The Seahawks selected Martinez in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 223rd overall.

Martinez was the lead back for Miami in 2024 after spending the prior two seasons at Oregon State. He led the Hurricanes with 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns on 159 carries and added 17 catches for 204 yards across 13 games (10 starts). Martinez runs with authority and will gain yards after contact, but he lacks the burst and elusiveness to make defenders miss in the second level. He'll likely compete with Kenny McIntosh and George Holani for the Seahawks' RB3 job behind Kenneth Walker (ankle) and Zach Charbonnet.

The Bengals selected Brooks in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 193rd overall.

Brooks was a four-year starter at Texas Tech, breaking the school record with 4,560 career rushing yards while posting back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons in his junior and sophomore seasons. He's a compact back with a 5-foot-9, 214-pound frame, and his tempo and vision allows him to navigate through defenses to pick up tough yards. Though he's not the fastest back in the draft, Brooks displayed his quickness at the 2025 NFL Combine with a 4.06-second shuttle time and 6.90-second three-cone time. Chase Brown (ankle) and Zack Moss (neck) are the Bengals' top two running backs, but Brooks will have a shot to compete against veteran Samaje Perine for the No. 3 job.

The Titans selected Mullings in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 188th overall.

Mullings played linebacker for most of his first three seasons at Michigan before focusing on running back for the final two years. In his fifth season, Mullings served as the lead back in a tandem with Donovan Edwards, generating 948 yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 carries (5.1 YPC). He failed to demonstrate pass-catching chops, however, so his path to playing time in Tennessee is hazy behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.

The Saints selected Neal in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 184th overall.

Few would have found it shocking if Neal had gone as early as the third round, so in the sixth round he could prove a bargain for the Saints. The former Kansas star would ideally be a little more heavy (5-foot-11, 213 pounds) and would ideally have a little more speed (4.58-second 40-yard dash), but Neal's collegiate production was convincing on the question of his skill set. Neal really knows how to play, be it on running and passing downs, and if he gets his foot into the door history says he might be tough to put back on the bench. Neal might supplant Kendre Miller on the depth chart if Miller can't improve in his third year, though Neal is likely no threat to Alvin Kamara's usage.

The Dolphins selected Gordon in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 179th overall.

A year ago, it would have been considered a big surprise for Gordon to last this long in the draft. He was coming off a monstrous sophomore season at Oklahoma State with 285 carries for 1,732 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. His junior year did not go as planned, however. Gordon's YPC dropped from 6.08 to 4.63, and he was held to 880 rushing yards on 190 attempts. The combine didn't help his stock much, as he tested below average in the 40 (4.61) and in the vertical (34.5). His fit in Miami is good, though. The Dolphins have two smaller, speedier backs and needed to add some thump. Gordon can provide that at 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds. The upside case for Gordon would be taking over a short-yardage and goal-line role in Miami.

The Colts selected Giddens in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 151st overall.

Formerly a zero-star recruit, Giddens worked his way up Kansas State's depth chart to start in his final two college seasons. He rushed for 1,200-plus yards in each of those two years and was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 roster in 2024. Giddens' cutback ability and lateral quickness makes him a dangerous runner in the open field, which makes up for his lack of effectiveness between the tackles. His elusiveness as a runner and pass-catching ability should allow him to compete with Khalil Herbert and Tyler Goodson for a rotational role in the Colts' backfield behind starter Jonathan Taylor.

The Cowboys selected Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 149th overall.

The Texas product is staying home, as he'll join the Cowboys' backfield. Blue brings a much-needed infusion of speed to the backfield (4.38 40-yard dash) to complement the power running styles of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. The rookie doesn't have a workhorse frame (5-foot-9, 196) but he has promise as a change-of-pace option with a bit of pass-catching upside (42 receptions, 368 yards, six receiving touchdowns in 2024). His home run hitting ability makes him interesting even though his volume projection is a concern.

The 49ers selected James in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 147th overall.

James initially saw work as a part-time contributor with the Oregon Ducks in 2023, when he racked up 107 carries for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns working in tandem with Bucky Irving, but the former took over the lead job last season and posted workhorse numbers, racking up 233 totes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors. He didn't test particularly well at the combine and isn't viewed as a home-run threat, but he's quick to find the hole and get downhill. James joins a 49ers team that dealt Jordan Mason to the Vikings this offseason, leaving Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo (knee/ankle) at the top of the depth chart. Given McCaffrey's injury history, there's a non-zero chance James will see the field as a rookie if he can beat out Patrick Taylor for third-string duties.

The Browns selected Sampson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 126th overall.

The Browns had a significant hole at running back entering the draft, and they've invested accordingly. Sampson will join Quinshon Judkins -- selected in the second round -- as rookies on the running back depth chart. The former showcased mediocre athletic ability at the combine, but Sampson was an excellent contributor at Tennessee by tallying 1,491 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns across 13 games in 2024 while facing stiff SEC competition. Both scouting reports and draft capital suggest Sampson will start behind Judkins on the depth chart, but Sampson should have the chance to find the field in his rookie season.