6 Running Backs for Lions to Watch at 2023 Scouting Combine

Six running backs Lions should scout at 2023 Scouting Combine.

The Detroit Lions have decisions to make surrounding their future at the running back position heading into the offseason.

Jamaal Williams emerged as a legitimate top back, breaking the franchise’s single-season touchdown record with 17 scores. However, that performance will likely drive up his asking price, as he enters free agency.

Regardless of whether he returns or not, there are concerns about fellow top running back D’Andre Swift’s durability. He’s yet to put together a full season in three years as a pro.

The Lions could address the position in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Scouting Combine, set for Feb. 28-March 6 in Indianapolis, Ind., will allow Detroit general manager Brad Holmes and company to evaluate the top prospects at running back.

Here are six running backs the Lions should watch and evaluate closely at the combine.

(MORE: Seven quarterbacks to watch at the Combine)

Bijan Robinson, Texas

The top prospect at the position, Robinson offers the total package in the backfield. He’s a physical specimen at 6-foot, 220 pounds. He runs hard and can make plays as a pass-catcher, which will make him an asset to any offensive scheme.

Because running backs carry less value than other positions early in the draft, Robinson has a chance to be available for either of Detroit’s first-round picks in 2023. He has the makeup of an instant contributor, and would fit well in Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s dynamic scheme.

The Lions have plenty of needs to address, so it’s unlikely that running back is a direction they go early in the draft. However, a player like Robinson could certainly steal the spotlight in Holmes’ eyes. Robinson will have a chance to do just that in Indianapolis.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

Though not as imposing as Robinson, Gibbs is just as, if not more, dynamic. He was a star for the Crimson Tide after transferring from Georgia Tech. He carried the ball 151 times, while adding 44 catches and totaling 1,370 all-purpose yards.

Gibbs fits the mold of a player like what Detroit already has in Swift. Seeing how Johnson used Swift shows that Gibbs would be a natural fit in the Lions’ scheme.

He won’t go as high as Robinson, and could be available for Detroit in the second round, which is where the team took Swift back in 2020. A good performance at the combine might make fans out of the Lions’ brass, which could create a tough decision for Holmes.

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA

Charbonnet’s size and physicality will make him productive as a pro. He doesn’t have the same receiving capabilities as Gibbs and Robinson do, but he makes up for that with an ability to maneuver and run through defenders between the tackles.

Viewed as a mid-round pick, Charbonnet will be a Day 2 option for teams hoping to add strength to their running backs rooms. Additionally, he’ll be a solid pass protector out of the backfield.

His combination of strength and skill will be appealing. At the combine, he’ll have a chance to prove that his speed measures up with the best.

Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports

Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Achane is a popular mid-round pick for the Lions among recent mock drafts. He certainly fits the mold, with his two-way skill set and production while playing with the Aggies.

In 2022, Achane surpassed 1,000 rushing yards, while adding 196 yards on receptions. He ended the year on a high note, finishing with 215 yards against LSU in the finale. He’s below Gibbs and Robinson on big boards, but could work his way near the top of the position with a good showing in Indianapolis.

There are concerns about his strength and ability to be a power runner, given his small frame. With that in mind, he could fit well with the Lions as a complement to a physical, downhill runner like Williams.

Tyjae Spears, Tulane

Spears was the key to a Tulane team that shocked the country in 2022, capped off with a win in the Cotton Bowl over USC. He followed that up with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Spears has another opportunity to perform well at the combine, which would help further boost his stock. He’s a small but speedy runner who can also contribute in the passing game. He’s worth a watch in Indianapolis, to evaluate whether he possesses the traits to be a big-time contributor at the next level.

Sean Tucker, Syracuse

Tucker is an intriguing case. He was solid at Syracuse, but lacks the elite ability to make defenders miss that his counterparts possess.

The two-way threat did a number of things well while playing for the Orange. He was leaned on plenty, so there may be concerns about his usage after 589 carries in college. Yet, he’s just a year removed from a first-team All-America selection in 2021, and could remind evaluators of his skills with a strong week in Indianapolis.