Green Bay Packers: 3 Mid-Round Running Back Prospects

Jaret Patterson – Buffalo

Patterson is another small back, but he brings a different skill set to the table than the other two. While he is basically the same size as Hawkins in height and weight, they are built differently, with Patterson being a more compact and muscular build. Because of this, he runs harder and is able to break more tackles but doesn’t have quite the speed that his counterparts do and doesn’t explode into the open field as they do either.

He is also less experienced and less suited for zone running. He did it some at Buffalo, but he’s best behind a power scheme where he can get a head of steam and break through the line hard.

He does have the most production of the group, with over 1000 yards rushing in all three of his college seasons, including 2020, when he only played six games and also scored 19 touchdowns. At Buffalo, he had a knack for finding the end zone and did so a whopping 53 times in three years. It should be noted that he played in the MAC, while Hawkins and Williams played in Power 5 conferences.

He didn’t catch many passes, but he may be the best pass blocker out of the group and can be a lead blocker on runs, too, when the Packers go into their two running back formations. Patterson doesn’t have the explosive speed or quickness of Hawkins or Williams, but he could provide a different dynamic in certain situations.

So which of these backs do you like for the Green Bay Packers in the middle rounds of the draft? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @DairylandXpress.