STRENGTHS
Rachaad reminds me a lot of the Saints running back Alvin Kamara. He has that same slip/sliding, smooth gate when making his cuts as Alvin has. He is not a pounding type of running back, more like a knife cutting through butter style of running back. Rachaad has excellent speed, size, and quickness and has excellent football intelligence with a great “feel” for the game in general. Rachaad can catch the ball down the field as well as any receiver in this draft. His quick feet, lateral agility, and vision makes Rachaad a “Now you see me, now you don’t” type of running back that will frustrate most linebackers once he breaks the line of scrimmage. His slip/sliding and gliding style of running between the tackles makes it very hard to get a full hit on Rachaad and his ability to stay on the field as a receiver makes Rachaad a possible every-down back for the team that selects him.
CONCERNS
Rachaad plays light and needs to be used in a spread offense to be effective out of the backfield. He gives good effort when used to block in the backfield but is not that effective. He runs upright but does drop his pads when he needs to gain needed yardage but he is not a power runner and this will affect his draft status for some teams.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.61
Rachaad will frustrate a lot of evaluators because he has the size and numbers that suggest he should be more of a power back. Alvin Kamara is not a power back and I believe most GM’s and Head Coaches wish they had selected him when he came out. Of course, the Saints are also always looking for that running back to complement Alvin and run the ball in the red zone or with 4 minutes left on the clock. Rachaad has to be used all over the offense and not just as a running back. Run him between the tackles and then split him out and throw him the ball. Don’t let a defense get a beat on this kid and he will impact for sure. The offensive coordinator and play-calling, are crucial to Rashaad’s ability to impact at the next level. His athletic talents and high football IQ allows him to be a multi-positional player and using him as just your running back, stuck in the backfield, will not maximize his talent’s ability to impact.
