NFL reasserts run game, will Detroit Lions draft follow suit?

Candidates 1

Cam Akers, RB, Florida St.

Cam Akers is a 5-foot-11, 212-pound former Seminoles back who has power runner tattooed on himself somewhere, we’re sure. His 4.47 40-yard-dash and low-pad running style in traffic make him a good candidate.

Akers has a powerful build and explosion to succeed in the NFL, especially in a power-running attack. He has both speed and power, hasn’t been asked to catch a lot of passes but seems willing and able to develop in that area to become a three-down runner.

Some pundits have criticized Akers for inconsistency, less-than-stellar blocking in pass-pro, and ball security issues but given Bevell’s successes with Lynch and Peterson, we believe he would thrive in Detroit and provide a player who could emerge as a starter down the road, shortly. Lastly, his believed draft position is just right at around the pick 67 level.

Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona St.

Benjamin is a former Sun Devil that still hasn’t played his best football. At 5-foot-9, 207 pounds, he’s a bit more of a project although his speed, 4.57-seconds is still within an acceptable range, especially since his first ten yards shows good burst at 1.62-seconds. Not ideally sized for a power-running attack, he was very productive in college with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in the PAC-12.

Eno was a four-star talent from Wylie, Texas prior to going to Tempe. He is a patient runner who reads blocks well, has good agility, and overall feel for his position. He demonstrates good power, jump cuts, and the ability to fall forward after finishing runs although he isn’t a bruiser.

The biggest question mark involves his ability to pick up blitzes consistently because he is a willing and decent receiver out of the backfield. Benjamin has a draft price tag of a fourth to fifth-round draft pick, somewhere around the Detroit Lions pick 149. We’re not sure if he’s high on Bob Quinn’s draft board but he is a prospect that we see as a developmental contributor and possible starter down the road.