The 2025 NFL Draft is flooded from top to bottom with incredible RB talent as this year's class is one of the best I have ever seen.
The Kansas City Chiefs have Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and Carson Steele returning and added Elijah Mitchell to a one-year deal in free agency to contribute next season. But still, many would like to see KC add a running back in the draft. I am not a fan of drafting RB in the first round, so today I offer five running backs I would like to see in KC next season, two on Day Two, two on Day Three and one honorable mention.
1. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Judkins is my guy in this year's RB class and is someone I have been higher on than most almost all season. Right now I have a top 50 grade on Judkins and he is my RB No. 2 in the draft.
Throughout his three-year career, Judkins has been one of the most dominant running backs in college football, posting 1000+ yard seasons every year of his college career. As a freshman, Judkins showed up to Ole Miss as a three-star recruit, won the starting job and had one of the best freshman seasons I have ever seen, with over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground.
As a sophomore, Judkins returned to form with well over 1,000 yards and 15 TDs on the ground as well as improvement in the pass game. That offseason, Judkins made the shocking move to hit the transfer portal and found his way to Ohio State. In 2024, Judkins split snaps with Treveon Henderson but still managed to rush for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns to help lead Ohio State to win the National Championship.
Judkins is a true starting RB in this class with the ability to do it all out of the backfield. His unique blend of quickness and power allows him to break tackles with ease and his vision out of the backfield helps him hit gaps hard and early. Judkins can fit in a zone or power run scheme with ease and should be a good fit with the Chiefs. While he is just an average pass catcher, he is an impressive blocker and shows the ability to be a true three-down back.
Due to the strength of this RB class, it is very possible that good RBs will fall and it wouldn't shock anyone if Judkins was available for the Chiefs at No. 63 or 66. It is possible the Chiefs don't want to risk him falling and would trade up or even take him at No. 31 if they are confident. Chiefs fans can't be fooled by the decrease in production from Judkins, because when you turn the film on, you will see an elite running back prospect who could take the starting job in Kansas City the second he arrives.
2. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Cam Skattebo (Skatt) is one of the more experienced running backs in the draft as a redshirt senior who started at JUCO college Sacramento State. Despite being on the older side for an NFL draft prospect, Skatt was one of the most productive players in college football and led Arizona State to the college football playoff where they lost in two overtimes to Texas.
Skatt proved he has the ability to do it all as a runner, pass catcher, pass blocker and even as a passer at times at Arizona State. Skatt started his career at Sac State and was recruited to Arizona State by Kenny Dillingham after he ran for 1,300 yards in his sophomore year.
In his junior season, Skatt was solid, with over 700 yards on the ground, but it wasn't until his senior season that he proved to be one of the best backs in college football.
In 2024, Skatt had not only the best season of his college career but one of the best seasons of any running back in college football. He had over 2,300 yards from scrimmage with an INSANE 25 total touchdowns.
It is very likely Skattebo will be on the board when the Chiefs pick at No. 63 or 66 and he may even fall to their other third at No. 95. I have confidence that Skatt would be a good fit in the Andy Reid offense, and while I don't quite see him in the dominating tier that Judkins is in, he would be a very solid contributor in the Chiefs offense on day one.