The 2027 NFL Draft running back class lacks a true elite prospect fighting for top-10 overall pick conversation, but the depth and day-2 value make this group stronger than last year’s class.

My co-host Joe DeLeone and I broke down the position on the latest episode of Best Pod Available, working through their summer scouting series with a full top-10 ranking of 2027 NFL Draft running backs.

The verdict: there are three to four running backs who would have been the second-best running back in the 2026 class, creating a balanced group with plenty of rotational and committee-style options for NFL teams. That depth is extremely intriguing.

Kewan Lacy leads the way at RB1

Both DeLeone and I placed Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy at the top of their boards, and for good reason. Lacy was the catalyst for the Rebels’ offensive success and a major reason they advanced as far as they did in the College Football Playoff. When he dealt with a hamstring issue, there was a stark difference in what Ole Miss could produce on offense.

I offered a pointed NFL comparison for Lacey: “He reminds me of Lamar Miller if Lamar Miller ran tougher.”

The comp centers on Lacy’s first-step explosiveness, second and third gear, and home-run speed. Miller was a productive NFL back who ran for 1,000 yards several times, but his game was built off explosives and he struggled to navigate chaos consistently.

I believe Lacy is much more efficient. While Lacy’s thinner lower half limits his ability to consistently break tackles inside the tackles, his wiggle on the outside, explosiveness, and willingness to compete as a pass blocker at 5-10 and 205 pounds separate him. He throws his body around in pass protection without hesitation, which dispels the notion that he’s purely a speed back.

DeLeone noted Lacy’s vision and ability to attack a gap, then turn it into a long touchdown run. The one concern: Lacy tends to bounce runs outside, a common trait among home-run hitters.

Ahmad Hardy brings elite contact balance at RB2

Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy landed at RB2 on both lists. I described Hardy’s contact balance and play strength as some of the best that I have watched, comparing the experience of watching him to shades of Marshawn Lynch’s beast mode because Hardy refuses to go down on first contact.

At 5-9 and 210 pounds, Hardy plays like he weighs 225. I emphasized that Missouri’s offensive line was good but not a dominant run-blocking unit, meaning Hardy frequently had to create something out of nothing. He is a singles-and-doubles hitter rather than a home-run threat, lacking top-end separation speed, but his efficiency translates directly to the NFL. When there are 4 yards available, Hardy gets 5. When there are 6, he gets 8.

DeLeone compared the style to Nick Chubb, noting that you could always trust Chubb to average 4 yards per carry because he would grind out yardage and force defenders to gang tackle him. The one question mark for Hardy is limited receiving production, which remains an area to figure out at the next level.

I summed up Hardy’s running style with one word: grimy. Hardy is recovering from an offseason shooting incident, and his availability early in the Missouri season remains uncertain.

Jadan Baugh’s unique skill set rounds out the top 3

Jadan Baugh checks in at RB3 with a truly unique profile. At 228 pounds, Ball draws some Saquon Barkley comparisons, but I pushed back on that, noting Baugh lacks true separation speed and will likely run in the 4.5 range. The better comp, in my view, is Le’Veon Bell. Baugh is a high-cut runner with patience, quick feet, and a lull-you-to-sleep quality behind the line of scrimmage before he unleashes enough power and explosiveness to churn out extra yardage.

I also noted the range of outcomes: the high-end comp is Bell before he priced himself out of Pittsburgh, while the lower-end comp is Najee Harris, a similar high-cut, physical, patient back who did not translate as effectively. Either way, Baugh profiles as a good NFL running back with 200-plus carry upside.

LJ Martin, Nate Frazier, and Justice Haynes fill the middle tier

BYU’s LJ Martin (Roberts’ No. 4, DeLeone’s No. 6) earned a Matt Forte comparison for his vision, soft hands, light feet, and ability to be a 1,000-yard rusher who catches 50-plus passes. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, he surprised me with his flexibility and wiggle for a bigger back.

Georgia’s Nate Frazier (Roberts’ No. 5, DeLeone’s No. 4) runs with a 100-miles-per-hour mentality, north and south. He lacks the size and power of Baugh or Martin but compensates with good acceleration, body control, and instincts. I called him grimy as well, noting Frazier sometimes seeks out contact unnecessarily.

Justice Haynes (Roberts’ No. 8, DeLeone’s No. 5) transferred from Michigan to Georgia Tech, an unexpected portal decision. His burst and lateral acceleration are impressive, but I flagged concerns about finishing runs behind his pads and overall efficiency. Haynes is the son of former Georgia and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Verron Haynes.

Isaac Brown, Mark Fletcher Jr., and the sleepers

Louisville’s Isaac Brown (No. 7 on both boards) is electric with the ball but weighs just 190 pounds with an extremely thin lower half. I compared the style to De’Von Achane but stressed Brown is not Achane, projecting him as a high-upside change-of-pace back rather than a true RB1.

Mark Fletcher Jr. (No. 9 on both boards) is the antithesis of Brown. I compared him to Brian Robinson Jr. as a north-south, one-track runner who keeps you on schedule with dirty yardage but will not create many explosives.

I closed with my sleeper: Cal running back Adam Mohammed, who transferred from Washington after backing up Jonah Coleman. At 220 to 225 pounds with legitimate twitch and vision, Mohammed could emerge as a name to watch under new Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi.

The 2027 running back class may not have a generational talent, but the volume of backs with translatable NFL traits makes this a position group worth watching throughout the college football season and into draft season.