The Titans selected Derrick Henry in the second round of the draft, and although they also have DeMarco Murray, the plan no doubt is for Henry to eventually be the team's featured runner. There have been more misses than hits in the second this century, as Tennessee is well aware.
There have been 40 running backs selected in the second round since 2000. Leaving out the most recent four, on whom the jury is still out, it looks like there have been 14 hits and 22 misses on those players. There's some judgment calls here (LaMont Jordan had a 1,000-yard season once, but is considered a miss), but that seems pretty fair.
Tennessee has now drafted 10 percent of those 2nd-round running backs since 2000, and the first three (LenDale White, Chris Henry and Bishop Sankey) all disappointed. White did have a good season in there, but generally was a disappointing pro.
SECOND-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 2001-PRESENT | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Pk | Player, Team | School | Hit/Miss |
2016 | 45 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | Alabama | ? |
2015 | 36 | T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | Alabama | ? |
2015 | 54 | Ameer Abdullah, Det | Nebraska | ? |
2014 | 57 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | Ohio State | ? |
2014 | 55 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | Louisiana State | Hit |
2014 | 54 | Bishop Sankey, Tenn. | Washington | Miss |
2013 | 58 | Montee Ball, Den. | Wisconsin | Miss |
2013 | 48 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | Michigan State | Hit |
2013 | 61 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | Alabama | Hit |
2013 | 62 | Christine Michael, Sea. | Texas A&M | Miss |
2013 | 37 | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | North Carolina | Hit |
2012 | 50 | Isaiah Pead, St.L. | Cincinnati | Miss |
2012 | 61 | LaMichael James, S.F. | Oregon | Miss |
2011 | 62 | Daniel Thomas, Mia. | Kansas State | Miss |
2011 | 38 | Ryan Williams, Ariz. | Virginia Tech | Miss |
2011 | 57 | Mikel Leshoure, Det. | Illinois | Miss |
2011 | 56 | Shane Vereen, N.E. | California | Hit |
2010 | 51 | Toby Gerhart, Minn. | Stanford | Miss |
2010 | 59 | Montario Hardesty, Clev. | Tennessee | Miss |
2010 | 58 | Ben Tate, Hou. | Auburn | Miss |
2009 | 53 | LeSean McCoy, Phi. | Pittsburgh | Hit |
2008 | 44 | Matt Forte, Chi. | Tulane | Hit |
2008 | 55 | Ray Rice, Balt. | Rutgers | Hit |
2007 | 63 | Brandon Jackson, G.B. | Nebraska | Miss |
2007 | 49 | Kenny Irons, Cin. | Auburn | Miss |
2007 | 50 | Chris Henry, Tenn. | Arizona | Miss |
2006 | 45 | LenDale White, Tenn. | Southern California | Hit |
2006 | 60 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | UCLA | Hit |
2005 | 44 | J.J. Arrington, Ariz. | California | Miss |
2005 | 54 | Eric Shelton, Car. | Louisville | Miss |
2004 | 43 | Julius Jones, Dall. | Notre Dame | Hit |
2004 | 41 | Tatum Bell, Den. | Oklahoma State | Miss |
2004 | 55 | Greg Jones, Jac. | Florida State | Miss |
2002 | 51 | Clinton Portis, Den. | Miami | Hit |
2002 | 34 | DeShaun Foster, Car. | UCLA | Miss |
2002 | 56 | Ladell Betts, Wash. | Iowa | Miss |
2002 | 54 | Maurice Morris, Sea. | Oregon | Miss |
2001 | 58 | Travis Henry, Buff. | Tennessee | Hit |
2001 | 38 | Anthony Thomas, Chi. | Michigan | Hit |
2001 | 49 | LaMont Jordan, NYJ | Maryland | Miss |
--Andy Richardson