1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas: McFadden may not be the #1 overall pick in a few weeks, but he will be the first back taken. There are questions about him, and a few things for him to improve upon with his running style when he hits his first mini-camp, but he’s still the man atop the running back totem pole. Will he go to a team that really needs him, or will the Raiders, Jets, or dare I say it, the Patriots, luck out and be able to get him?

And, because this site is a proud member of the Yardbarker Network, it’s in my contract to tell you to head over to the Yard and check out D-Mac’s personal blog.

2. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon: As is the case with Colt Brennan, Stewart’s stock shouldn’t go tumbling due to injury. Stewart’s toe surgery will keep him out until July, but he should be ready for training camp.

Even so, he may fall a few spots in the draft, and could see Rashard Mendenhall taken before him. Still, he shouldn’t be on the board past the first 20 picks.

3. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois: Mendenhall or Stewart? Tough choice between the two physical, versatile, quick backs, so you may as well flip a coin.

4. Ray Rice, Rutgers: The diminutive Rice is an underrated prospect, in part because of his size. However, he packs a lot of punch, and the ability to get in the middle of the fray and grind out the tough yards, or put on the burners and make the long run. He could very well be the best of the bunch when all is said and done if he can continue to take a licking and keep on ticking as he has thus far.

5. Chris Johnson, East Carolina: Johnson is the fastest back in the draft, and possibly the fastest prospect overall. But, there’s more to his game than speed and big-play ability, as he’s a good receiver out of the backfield (125 receptions, 1,296 yards, 10 TD in his collegiate career). He made a huge improvement as a senior, developing himself into one of the nation’s top backs and a potential first-round prospect. Along with Felix Jones and potentially Jamaal Charles, Johnson will be in the mix for the Dallas Cowboys to be that speed back that they’re likely to add with one of their two first-round picks.

6. Felix Jones, Arkansas: Just as McFadden did, Jones only managed 13 reps in the bench press at Arkansas’ Pro Day. Does that hurt his first-round status? No, but it might be a good idea to start making regular trips to the weight room to add a little boom to that woosh.

7. Jamaal Charles, Texas: Charles’ speed is unquestioned. Are his issues with holding onto the ball and producing consistently behind him? If a team has faith that they are, he could be a top-50 pick, and may get late first round consideration.

8. Matt Forte, Tulane: Forte showed off speed (4.44), strength (23 reps in the bench press), and agility and shiftiness (4.23 and 6.84 in the 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill) at the combine, and that combination could land him in the second round.

9. Kevin Smith, Central Florida: Smith’s speed might be the question mark, besides the 450 times that he carried the ball in UCF’s 14-game season. But, he ran in the 4.4s at UCF’s Pro Day, and like Forte, that’s a pretty good time for guys their size (6′1, 217). While it remains to be seen if he (and Forte) can continue to hold up on the next level, he’ll be a solid pick in the third, and could jump into the second.

10. Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech: Choice was quietly one of the ACC’s best backs in the last few years, running for 2,852 yards and 22 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

However, up until recently, he’d flown under the radar as a draft prospect, in part because of questions about speed and receiving ability (only 26 catches in the last two seasons). But, he ran in the 4.4s at the combine, and showed off good hands at Tech’s Pro Day last month, and looks likely to be taken in the third.

Where did these top tailbacks land in my updated mock draft? Check it out here.

Go to NFL Draft HQ

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