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Where will Clemson RB Phil Mafah go in NFL draft? Here are top 5 landing spots
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- Where will Clemson RB Phil Mafah go in NFL draft? Here are top 5 landing spots
CLEMSON — Phil Mafah enters the 2025 NFL Draft looking to be the second straight Clemson football running back taken, joining Will Shipley .
Mafah, 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds, recorded 1,115 yards rushing on 216 carries for eight touchdowns last season, exceeding 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career. He is a tough, hard-nosed runner who can punish defenders and he carries sneaky acceleration to finish runs. A concern is his pass-catching ability, though; he has never surpassed 110 receiving yards in his four years at Clemson .
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Mafah, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, did not participate in the NFL combine in late February, but he held a private individual workout at Clemson in front of teams on April 8.
Here are the top five destinations for the Tigers' standout running back:
Phil Mafah NFL draft projection 1: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers need to add a power back after losing Najee Harris . They added Kenneth Gainwell to join Jaylen Warren , but neither is a physical back. Pittsburgh drafting Mafah in one of the late rounds could be a steal that would pay dividends.
Phil Mafah NFL draft projection 2: Cleveland Browns
Cleveland did not re-sign standout running back Nick Chubb , who battled injuries in 2023 and 2024. It has two running backs on its roster ( Pierre Strong , Jerome Ford ), meaning it needs to add multiple backs in free agency or the draft.
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Adding a dynamic and power back are two needs the Browns can fill with their 10 draft picks. With one of their five late-round picks, they can select Mafah to compete for a roster spot.
MORE: 2025 NFL draft: Projecting best landing spot for Clemson football players, including Phil Mafah
Phil Mafah NFL draft projection 3: New Orleans Saints
New Orleans let running back Jamaal Williams go in free agency, leaving a void for a power back in the backfield. Alvin Kamara will be 30 years old when the 2025 season begins, and injuries have derailed 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller 's career. The Saints need to add capable running backs, and Mafah could be a candidate late in the draft.
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Phil Mafah NFL draft projection 4: Tennessee Titans
With one of its late-round picks, Tennessee can add Mafah, a power back it has been lacking. His play won't resemble its former standout Derrick Henry , but he'll be the change-of-pace back who can win in short-yardage situations and eventually replace Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears .
Phil Mafah NFL draft projection 5: Dallas Cowboys
Dallas signed two running backs ( Javonte Williams , Miles Sanders ) in free agency on one-year deals to strengthen its unit. Still, it should look to add a running back who can lead its backfield for years like Ezekiel Elliott did from 2016 through 2022.
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The Cowboys taking a dynamic runner and a power back like Mafah would shore up their running backs room for years.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Phil Mafah NFL draft projections: Best landing spots for Clemson RB
