Following a subpar NFL Combine, could Ravens running back prospect Bucky Irving be the next version of Rams rusher Kyren Williams
Next week, the Baltimore Ravens will officially begin free agency, and many have predicted that the team will land future Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry. However, one draft prospect who would fit well with the organization regardless is Oregon rusher Bucky Irving.
At the NFL Combine, Irving recorded some numbers that failed to impress, but after the success of Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, perhaps his numbers are deceiving.
The easiest trap to fall into when evaluating players is overvaluing their results at the NFL Combine and letting it overshadow on-field production.
Back in 2022, Williams fell to the Rams after posting some subpar numbers at his combine, but in his second NFL season, he was given a three-down workload and rewarded the team by making his first All-Pro team.
Despite neither running back having the most impressive testing results, they were similar in many ways. In their junior seasons, they produced over 1,300 all-purpose yards and at least 13 touchdowns before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Ever since Irving transferred to Oregon as a sophomore from Minnesota, he’s produced at least 1,300 yards a season, and this past year, he had over 1,500 yards.