After no running back was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft since 1963, the second and third rounds produced some fascinating picks — six in all — for a position that has clearly lost its luster.
Alabama’s Eddie Lacy was the most highly publicized running back in the draft, but North Carolina’s Giovani Bernard was the first running back taken by Cincinnati with the fifth pick in the second round.
Bernard will immediately push former Patriot BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who left New England before last season and signed a three-year deal with the Bengals. But he has not proven to be the answer.
Lacy was the fourth back picked after Michigan State’s Le’veon Bell (Steelers) and Wisconsin’s Montee Ball (Broncos). But Lacey might have landed in the best place — running back-starved Green Bay. At No. 61, Lacy balances an offense reliant on Aaron Rodgers.
Right after Lacy went, Texas A&M’s Christine Michael went to the Seahawks. Pete Carroll won’t have to wear out Marshawn Lynch.
Ball could challenge Knowshon Moreno, who has struggled to remain healthy. He played in just nine games last season.
Bell, who had 382 carries last season and 671 over the last three, should sue Michigan State for workman’s comp. How much does he have left for the Steelers?
Arkansas’s Knile Davis might be the most explosive of all the backs. He needs to show he’s fully recovered from a 2011 left ankle injury. The Chiefs, using the second to last pick in the third round, potentially have a dynamic backup for Jamaal Charles.
Still one more good back out there: Stanford’s Stepfan Taylor.
THE CLASS OF 2009? The Jets aren’t the only team putting the heat on a quarterback drafted in 2009. Tampa Bay took North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon with the 71st pick. Josh Freeman was the 17th pick in 2009. Mark Sanchez was the fifth player taken in that draft.
BOUNTIFUL DEFENSE: The Saints, another team heavily weighted on offense, added some weight on defense. Nose tackle John Jenkins of Georgia (6-foot-4, 336) is a huge run-stuffer and first-round pick safety Kenny Vaccaro is a heavy hitter. Considering the Saints face the high-powered Falcons twice, a little defense might come in handy.
THE TIES THAT BIND: Patriots coach Bill Belichick and former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, now the head guy in Tampa, were linked again in this draft. The Pats used the 83rd pick on cornerback Ryan Logan of Rutgers and 91st pick on Scarlet Knight safety Duron Harmon.
Belichick used a first-round pick in 2010 (yes, the Pats actually used a first-round pick) on former Rutgers corner Devin McCourty in the 2010 draft. And Schiano traded cornerback Aquib Talib to New England for a fourth round pick in this year’s draft.
QB HELP: After making one of the stunning moves in the first round by drafting QB E.J. Manuel, Bills first-year coach Doug Marrone got his QB some immediate help. The Bills used their second-round pick on USC WR Robert Woods. Think Anquan Boldin.
The Cowboys gave Tony Romo a $120 million, seven-year deal that included a $25 million signing bonus. Despite having Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, the Cowboys added Baylor stud Terrance Williams (6-2, 208) who had 17 catches for 314 yards against West Virginia.
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED: Philadelphia came up with best early pick of the second round by snagging Stanford tight end Zack Ertz. Eagles tight end Brent Celek had one touchdown catch last season.