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NFL Draft Report: Dylan Riley, Wayshawn Parker, and More Underrated RB Prospects for 2027
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- NFL Draft Report: Dylan Riley, Wayshawn Parker, and More Underrated RB Prospects for 2027
Each of the last two NFL Draft classes have produced multiple first-round running backs, including a top-10 pick at the position both times.
It's still early, but that feels like an unlikely scenario for the 2027 class. There doesn't appear to be another Ashton Jeanty or Jeremiyah Love in this cycle, and though Florida's Jadan Baugh could end up being a top-15 selection, there's yet to be another runner who has proven to be a first-round talent so far this season.
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But despite an apparent lack of elite talent at the top of the group, the 2027 running back class has a handful of underrated gems who aren't getting enough love for their NFL potential.
2027 NFL DRAFT RANKINGS
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | Interior OL | Edge | Interior DL | LB | CB | S
Team Needs | Top 100 Big Board
Here are a few of my favorites:
Dylan Riley, Boise State
He's not Jeanty in terms of size or production, but Riley is a fun prospect in his own right.
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Listed at 5-10, 203 pounds, Riley has an impressive blend of vision, balance and explosiveness that makes him a consistent threat to break off a big run on any carry, and he's got a ton of elusiveness in the open field. Through seven games, Riley leads all the FBS with 963 rushing yards, averaging just shy of seven yards per attempt with eight touchdowns.
He's also been effective as a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield, nearly matching his receiving totals from last year already with 12 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
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His undersized frame could limit him to a change-of-pace role at the next level, and that could weigh down his draft stock. But the NFL is full of mid-round and Day 3 running back prospects who are making a significant impact on a weekly basis, and if that's the range where Riley finds himself coming off the board in April, I won't be surprised if he becomes the latest one.
Wayshawn Parker, Utah
Parker caught my eye early last season, and I was disappointed to see at the time that he wasn't eligible yet for the 2026 draft.
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He put up solid numbers a year ago, but has been far more productive so far this season, with 644 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on just 102 carries (6.3 yards per rush). Parker was a capable receiving weapon last year, but he's taken that part of his game to a completely different level in 2026, with 23 receptions for 247 yards and four scores through the air so far this year.
Listed at 5-10, 205 pounds, Parker may not have elite top-end speed, but he's plenty fast enough to take it to the house (just ask the Kansas defense), and he plays with the power and physicality of a runner who's 15 pounds heavier. He's got ideal vision and patience, and his combination of pass-catching prowess and the ability to pick up extra rushers as a blocker will give him a chance to be an every-down back at the next level. This feels like a back who will come off the board in the fourth round because he doesn't test off the charts, but then turns around and puts up 1,000 yards of total offense early in his NFL career.
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Cam Cook, West Virginia
Much like Riley, Cook is an undersized but dynamic playmaker who is putting up huge numbers so far this season.
Cook ranks third in the nation with 923 rushing yards, and he's averaging five yards a carry with seven rushing touchdowns. He's also making an impact in the passing game, turning his 11 receptions into 115 yards and two more trips to the end zone. A transfer from Jacksonville State, Cook was highly productive for the Gamecocks last year, and hasn't missed a beat after making the jump to the Big 12 with the Mountaineers.
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Listed at 5-9, 203 pounds, Cook plays with more power and physicality than you might expect, and his contact balance is impressive as he works through even the most technically sound tackle attempts. This looks like a complete back who can impact the game on all three downs, and his consistent production regardless of level of competition has me confident the same thing will happen when he makes the jump to the NFL.
Antwan Raymond, Rutgers
We've seen multiple running backs come out of this program in recent years and turn into instant-impact pros (Isiah Pacheco, Kyle Monangai), and Raymond might have more upside than both of them.
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A well-rounded back who has spent all three of his collegiate seasons with the Scarlet Knights, Raymond is a well-rounded back who put up nearly 1,500 yards of total offense last season (15 total touchdowns), and he's picked up right where he left off so far this season with just shy of 800 total yards and seven scores in as many games.
The 5-11, 205-pounder shows an ideal combination of explosiveness and power, with the vision, patience and balance to run through first contact and force more than one defender to get involved before he hits the ground. Combined with his ability to make a big-play impact as both a runner and a receiver, Raymond looks like the total package. This hasn't been a great year for his team so far, and teammate KJ Duff has gotten more attention as an NFL prospect, but Raymond deserves more respect for what he's putting on film right now.
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More NFL Draft Notes
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Texas entered the year with four prospects projected among the top 10 in the 2027 NFL Draft class, but how many of them will stay there? Edge rusher Colin Simmons has been the best of the bunch as the most dominant defensive player in all of college football, but now he's dealing with a potential high-ankle sprain that's forcing him to miss some time. Left tackle Trevor Goosby is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered in Saturday night's win over Ole Miss, and it remains to be seen whether or not he'll return for another year or enter the 2027 draft coming off a season-ending injury. Quarterback Arch Manning and wide receiver Cam Coleman have both been inconsistent at best, and overall, have fallen far short of preseason expectations. I still expect Simmons to be a top-five pick, but the rest of this group is more question than answer at this point in terms of their NFL Draft outlook.
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After the Miami Dolphins finally got their first win of the season Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers are now the only team in the NFL without a win through the first seven weeks of the regular season. That might have seemed preposterous heading into Week 1, but the Chargers have struggled on both sides of the ball, and Justin Herbert has regressed in Mike McDaniel's offense. I'll still be somewhat surprised if they maintain their current trajectory and end up with the No. 1 overall pick, but if that happens, at least the silver lining for Herbert will be the chance to land Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
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Minnesota offensive lineman Greg Johnson remains one of my favorite players in the 2027 class. Much like Vega Ioane coming out of Penn State this past year, Johnson is an absolute mauler in the run game, and he's proving this season that he can be just as valuable and effective at center or guard. Ioane is proving the same for the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie, and he already looks like a massive bargain with the No. 14 overall pick. Like Ioane, Johnson is currently a top-10 prospect on my board, but we all know interior offensive linemen rarely come off the board in that range. Whoever ends up landing him in the teens or 20s when April rolls around will be just as happy as the Ravens are with Ioane right now.
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Oregon head coach Dan Lanning announced Monday that quarterback Dante Moore is not expected to suit up for the Ducks again this season. Moore suffered a concussion in late September against USC on a nasty hit while attempting to slide at the end of a run, and has yet to be cleared to return. Widely expected to be the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Moore opted to return to school and chase a national title after coming up short last season. It looks like this will be a disappointing end to his collegiate career, but it's good to see Lanning and the Oregon staff playing it safe with Moore's health and future.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
