For the first time in 50 years a running back was not drafted in the first round. While a running back was 50-50 to be grabbed in the first round, a few teams were reported to have interest. Former Alabama running back Eddie Lacy is the highest rated back in this year's draft class and multiple showed interest in him, but no one was willing to grab him with their top pick. As the second round approaches, Lacy will likely be taken off the board. The Denver Broncos are in the market for a back and Lacy would be the best fit.
As the first round unfolded and a rush on linemen began, it seemed likely that Lacy would slip out of the first round. The pre-draft process was rough for Lacy. He was hampered for much of the offseason with a hamstring injury that prevented him from being able to work out during the NFL Combine and required him to postpone his Pro Day multiple times. Despite all of that, he is still the highest rated running back and perfect Day 2 option for a team.
Denver has a lot of uncertainty at the running back position. Injuries plagued them last season and even though Peyton Manning is one of the best in the league, he still needs an effective ground game to take some of the pressure off. The health of Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno remains unknown after offseason surgeries, leaving a hole to fill in the ground game.
The Broncos have spent a large amount of time with Lacy and have been impressed with the type of workhorse he can be. Lacy excels at running between the tackles while also having great hands that can open up the Broncos playbook. In 2012 while sharing the load with T.J Yeldon, Lacy still put up 1,322 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
If the Broncos are able to grab Lacy with No. 58 pick overall, it would be a real steal for the team. The Green Bay Packers are also a team that is looking for a second-round running back and they pick just ahead of the Broncos. He did not drop out of the first round due to lack of talent so anyone that picks him up in the second will get a top quality player.
