{"id":242321,"date":"2026-05-08T06:31:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T06:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/08\/early-projection-top-10-running-backs-in-the-2027-nfl-draft\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T06:31:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T06:31:03","slug":"early-projection-top-10-running-backs-in-the-2027-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/08\/early-projection-top-10-running-backs-in-the-2027-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Early projection: Top 10 running backs in the 2027 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>With the 2026<span>\u00a0<\/span><a data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/nfl\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/nfl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL<\/a><span>\u00a0Draft wrapped up, the attention has shifted to the 2027 draft. The 2027 running back class could take a step back in depth, but with a few highly quality prospects at the top.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This group features multiple three-down running backs, situational depth pieces, and transfers who could break out this fall. However, rankings will change significantly leading up to next April.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Here are the current top 10 running backs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>\n<span>1. Ahmad Hardy (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/missouri_tigers\/57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Missouri<\/span><\/a><span>) (5-foot-10, 206 pounds)<\/span><br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p>Hardy is a true three-down running back who will likely be at the top of his position. He led the FBS in rushing yards (1,649), showcasing elite contact balance, upfield burst, and post-snap vision against top competition. He&#8217;s a compact runner who breaks tackles, accelerates quickly, and is a future franchise running back.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>\n<span>2. Nate Frazier (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/georgia_bulldogs\/509\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Georgia<\/span><\/a><span>) (5-10, 210)<\/span><br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p>Georgia has produced multiple NFL-caliber running backs, including Herschel Walker, Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley, and more. Frazier could be the next top running back to come out with a projected sub-4.40 that can outrun a defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>3. LJ Martin (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/brigham_young_cougars\/329\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BYU<\/a>) (6-2, 220)<\/h2>\n<p>Martin possesses elite size, a rare frame for an NFL running back. He brings very good production, pre- and post-snap vision, and elusiveness in space, which is eye-opening due to his size. He\u2019s a patient, scheme-friendly runner who could rise quickly in a pro-style system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>4. Isaac Brown (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/louisville_cardinals\/66\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louisville<\/a>) (5-9, 190)<\/h2>\n<p>The Louisville running back is a favorite among multiple scouts and draft analysts. Brown is an explosive runner and elusive in space. He offers very good foot speed and a big-play threat. He can also become a threat on third down in the receiving game with more development.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>5. Mark Fletcher (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/miami_hurricanes\/35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Miami<\/a>) (6-2, 225)<\/h2>\n<p>Fletcher is another running back who possesses an elite frame heading into his final season. He&#8217;s a true <span>gap runner, strong and physical between-the-tackles grinder with solid speed. Fletcher offers starter potential as a power back who can handle a heavy workload.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>6. Kewan Lacy (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/mississippi_rebels\/512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ole Miss<\/a>) (5-11, 200)<\/h2>\n<p>Lacy is higher on most boards, but other running backs are expected to have huge seasons. He combines speed, lateral agility, and home-run ability with surprising power between the tackles. He\u2019s a threat in the passing game, becoming a reliable target for any quarterback.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Justice Haynes (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/georgia_tech_yellow_jackets\/33\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Georgia Tech<\/a>) (5-11, 210)<\/h2>\n<p>Haynes transferred from Michigan to Georgia Tech, making him a potential breakout candidate that could eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. He possesses solid contact balance, decisiveness and athletic ability. Some scouts love his versatility and ability as a north-south runner.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Jadan Baugh (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/florida_gators\/508\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Florida<\/a>) (6-1, 231)<\/h2>\n<p>Baugh is a powerful, well-rounded back who can run inside or outside and contribute as a receiver. He&#8217;s consistently developed his receiving ability. Florida\u2019s offense should give him plenty of opportunities to climb boards in the fall.<\/p>\n<h2>9. Darius Taylor (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/minnesota_golden_gophers\/46\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minnesota<\/a>) (6-0, 215)<\/h2>\n<p>Darius Taylor brings extensive experience and solid production for the Golden Gophers. He possesses good size for the position, very good contact balance, and three-down potential as a dual-threat back at the next level.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>10. Jordan Marshall (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/colleges\/michigan_wolverines\/44\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michigan<\/a>) (5-11, 216)<\/h2>\n<p>With the transfer of Haynes, Marshall could see a drastic rise in his workload in 2026. <span>He reads blocks well, can find creases, and runs with determination and physicality. Marshall could see his rankings rise as he continued to develop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script>\n    !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n    {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n    n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n    if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n    n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n    t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n    s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n    'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n    fbq('init', '1324276914788316');\n    fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  <\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardbarker.com\/college_football\/articles\/early_projection_top_10_running_backs_in_the_2027_nfl_draft\/s1_13132_43818010\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the 2026\u00a0NFL\u00a0Draft wrapped up, the attention has shifted to the 2027 draft. The 2027 running back class could take a step back in depth, but with a few highly quality prospects at the top.\u00a0 This group features multiple three-down running backs, situational depth pieces, and transfers who could break out this fall. However, rankings [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":242322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-242321","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/242322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}