Pittsburgh Running Back Isreal Abanikanda has Featured Back Potential in 2023 NFL Draft

Should Abanikanda start being talked about as one of the best backs in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Year after year, we've seen running backs go later in the NFL Draft. We've yet to see a running back crack the top 20 since 2018, when Saquon Barkley was selected second overall to the New York Giants. We've seen players like Jonathan Taylor, D'Andre Swift, and Kenneth Walker, who have shown a ton of promise early in their careers, go later than the first round. 

There are many talented running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft class. But if teams are going to wait to take their next top running back, they should look at Isreal Abanikanda.

With players like Bijan Robinson (Texas) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) being the likely first two running backs off the board, the rest of the position group is up for grabs. Abanikanda has been discussed as an early day-three prospect, with some thinking he could go on day two. If he's still there on day three—someone is getting a steal.

After not testing at the NFL Combine, Abanikanda went to his Pro Day and lit it up. He was the talk all over social media after running a 4.41 40-yard dash and having a 41-inch vertical jump at 5-foot-10 and 216 pounds.

That size, combined with the confirmed speed and explosiveness, will be more than enough to prove why he's worthy of an early day three pick. But then you turn on the film and see his open-field speed, burst out of the backfield, and elusiveness to make defenders miss; you start to wonder why he isn't a day-two prospect.

There's also the fantasy football aspect and where the experts see him. Faceoff Sports Network has Abanikanda ranked 25th in their 1QB average draft position (ADP). If he lands in a desirable landing spot and gets day-two NFL Draft capital, you'll also see him shoot up those rankings.

While it is true—running backs are destined to fall in the NFL Draft, there's no reason Abanikanda should be available on the final day of the Draft. 

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