Detroit Lions mock draft 2018: A running back for every round

Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45 - 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45 - 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Bo Scarbrough #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes the ball during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Bo Scarbrough #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes the ball during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Round 5

Running backs don’t get much more powerful than Bo Scarbrough. Unfortunately, his injury history is scary for a back whose game is predicated on physicality. That fact alone should be enough to push Scarbrough down draft boards despite his size, power and solid testing at the NFL Combine.

But at some point in the draft he’ll be worth the risk. Scarbrough may not have a ten year NFL career, but teams aren’t generally looking for that when drafting a running back anyway.

There’s also a question about just how effective Scarbrough might be even if he can stay healthy. While most running back prospects put up gaudy numbers in college, Scarbrough is coming off a season in which he averaged just 4.8 yards per carry.

That was a down year for him – he had a college career average of 5.7 yards per carry – but if you’re already worried about him being banged up, are you really going to expect the guy who averaged 6.5 yards per carry in 2016 or 4.8 yards per carry in 2017?

Still, the physical traits will be too much for someone to pass up. Fans of whichever team bites will just have to risk-reward balance turns out in their favor.