The 2015 NFL Draft might finally be the one that ends the talk of running backs being devalued. At least two players at the position could be taken in the first round this year, and several others will probably be off the board before the end of Day 2 in Chicago.
One of this year's most debated running backs is Georgia's Todd Gurley, who, had he not torn his ACL last season, would seemingly have been a lock as a top-10 pick. Instead, where Gurley goes in the draft is a mystery that will last until draft day.
Count NFL Media analyst Brian Baldinger among those who believe Gurley's talent makes him too good to pass up -- assuming your team doctors have cleared his knee. In fact, Gurley is Baldinger's choice as the most talented player in the draft, and he even compared Gurley to another superstar at the position in the NFL.
"The talent and the ability that he has is unquestioned," Baldinger said. "This guy knows how to go North-South, he's got all of the agility. We've got to see about the knee, I know. But I just have this feeling this guy is going to be special. A lot in the way I thought about Adrian Peterson coming out of Oklahoma in 2007 and how he was going to be special, I feel the same way about this kid."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who has long touted Leonard Williams as his most talented player in the draft and ranks him No. 1 in his Top 50 prospects, ranks Gurley as his No. 12 prospect.
Still, that's a high bar for Gurley to clear, even if he's recovering from the same injury Peterson suffered in the 2011 season, at a much later stage in his career.
NFL.com mock drafts have Gurley going as high as No. 6 overall to the New York Jets and as low as No. 26 to the Baltimore Ravens, quite a wide spread for one of the top players at his position.
No matter where Gurley winds up though, he'll certainly be entering the league with high expectations.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
