The theory that running backs are not a valuable commodity has become a prevalent, and now widely accepted, way of thinking in NFL circles for the better part of the past decade. Despite this, almost every draft cycle, we see a prospect who makes the NFL willing to throw positional value aside. Jeremiah Love just went third overall last month, and Ashton Jeanty sixth the year before that.

In the 2024 NFL Draft, no teams took a running back in the first round, but going back a year further, you get Bijan Robinson (No. 7) and Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12), both going Top-15.

It’s far too early to judge the success of Love or Jeanty, but Robinson and Gibbs have gone on to become two of the best playmakers in the entire sport, and were well worth those high selections. The player to continue that trend this year? Florida’s Jadan Baugh.

Why Is Jadan Baugh High on Draft Boards?

Baugh wasn’t a massive recruit coming out of high school. Only a three-star from Georgia, Baugh was just the 55th best player in his own state. That didn’t prevent him from quickly emerging as a key piece for the Gators’ offense. 

After rushing for just under 700 yards as a true freshman, Baugh stepped into a full-time role last year as a sophomore and finished with close to 1,400 all-purpose yards in 12 starts. He didn’t get enough hype due to playing for an underperforming Florida offense, which has kept him from the national spotlight, but NFL teams certainly will have taken notice of the 6-foot-1, 230-pound back running roughshod through SEC play as a 19-year-old.

Baugh clearly has the size to handle lead-back duties at the next level, but he pairs that with rare athleticism for a player with his build. Few backs pushing 230 pounds possess the lateral agility and burst to make defenders miss in a phone booth like Baugh can.

Baugh was one of the best tackle-breaking backs in the country in 2025, finishing eighth in the nation with 65 missed forced tackles. His blend of power, contact balance, and quickness makes it extremely difficult to take him down. Both from a standstill and when he gets his momentum rolling downhill.

What Makes Baugh Different From Other Backs?

There are plenty of talented runners in the SEC, but what sets Baugh apart is his vision and third-down ability. Typically, younger backs with the speed and power Baugh possesses love to bounce to the outside in search of big plays, but that’s not an issue with him. Baugh does a tremendous job of prodding and searching out lanes in traffic before exploding through the hole to the second level.

The third-down ability, an area bigger backs typically struggle with, is where Baugh really sets himself apart. The stats aren’t eye-popping, with 33 receptions for 210 yards, but the tape consistently shows a player the staff trusted to flex out and run legit routes. He is also an absolute terror when matched up out of the backfield with linebackers, given his size and quickness as a ball carrier in space.

When you factor in a frame and a mentality built to stonewall blitzing LBs in pass protection, Baugh has the three-down impact needed to become a top pick.

Baugh isn’t a perfect player. He lacks the top speed typically seen in premier backs, and his pass-protection technique is still a work in progress. However, players with his physical profile and early production have an extremely high success rate at the next level.

Jadan Baugh should be a locked-in Top-15 pick in 2027 even with zero improvements off of last year’s play, but if he continues to make strides, it is hard to see him not being the third back in as many years to be taken in the Top-10.

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