The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2025 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll look at the quarterbacks, running backs, and pass catchers for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today, it’s the first group of AFC running back rooms. Teams appear in ascending order.
#16: Kansas City Chiefs
On the Roster: Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, Brashard Smith, and Elijah Young
About: It’s a bit hard to look at the bottom of the AFC groups for running backs. There are a lot of rooms with a few options, none of which stand out. I settled on the Chiefs being the least impressive, which isn’t to say they lack upside.
Pacheco is going into a contract year and coming off a lost 2024. He had a significant injury and looked poor coming back at the end of the season and into the playoffs. Hunt is again, but he was the most stable back for the Chiefs last year. Mitchell has tremendous upside, but a checkered injury history. It’s been a few years since he led a backfield, and he’s coming off a missed 2024 due to injury on a one-year deal. Then there’s Smith, a late-round rookie pick who adds depth. There are options, and if Pacheco bounces back strong, this group will be OK. If not, this could be a disastrous backfield.
#15: Cleveland Browns
On the Roster: Quinshon Judkins, Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson, and Pierre Strong, Jr.
About: The Browns have historically had a good running game and, like the Chiefs, they’re not devoid of options. But it’s hard to know how this shakes out. The veteran of the group is Ford, who has led the Browns in rushing the past two seasons, but that’s not setting a high bar. The team struck twice in the draft, grabbing Judkins early and Sampson later. Both have a chance to contribute, which could make this a strong backfield. But it’s a bit of an unknown at this point, so it remains to be seen how the backfield—and the offense as a whole—shakes out in 2025. It could be a long year for Cleveland.
#14: Denver Broncos
On the Roster: R.J. Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson
About: The Broncos need to get more out of their backfield. Leading rusher Javonte Williams left for the Cowboys, but the Broncos struck in the draft, grabbing Harvey in the Second Round. That should give this backfield a boost. Behind him, the team has McLaughlin and Estime, who combined for 806 yards in 2024. That could leave this backfield as deep and dynamic if Harvey hits. The Broncos’ run game will be a struggle if he doesn’t. Either way, the team’s backfield is a work in progress.
#13: Pittsburgh Steelers
On the Roster: Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon, Evan Hull, and Cordarrelle Patterson
About: The Steelers lost their leading rusher in Najee Harris. He’s in Los Angeles and has gone after producing 1,000-plus yards rushing in each of his four seasons. In his stead, the Steelers brought back Warren, who added 510 yards rushing and 38 receptions in 2024. The team added a group of free agents in Gainwell, Sermon, and Hull, all of whom provide depth.
However, the big addition was Johnson in the draft. He had 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns last season at Iowa. He could be a considerable force in the backfield for the Steelers, and if he’s a hit, this group could have some significant upside. But, like the other three teams already on this list, the Steelers have more questions than answers right now.
#12: Tennessee Titans
On the Roster: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut, Kalel Mullings, and Micah Bernard
About: The Titans arrive at this spot as a tough group to rank. They have a couple of good options in Pollard and Spears. But there might be some limits. Pollard has shown he’s a strong back but perhaps not a dynamic No. 1 back. Meanwhile, Spears missed time due to injury in 2024 and never quite clicked in his first season without Derrick Henry. But Pollard has three straight 1,000-yard seasons, so this group deserves to be ranked above the previous four.
#11: Jacksonville Jaguars
On the Roster: Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten, Keilan Robinson, and LeQuint Allen
About: The Jaguars are another tough team to rank. They have some good options. Etienne has been a strong lead, and Bigsby was a solid contributor in 2024. They also added interesting upside rookies in Tuten and Allen. But what is this backfield going to be like? What is the Jaguars’ offense going to be like with Liam Coen? How is the split going to work? Can Etienne return to form in 2025? Those are big questions for the Jaguars. Their potential and depth land them here; their questions prevent them from going any higher.
#10: Houston Texans
On the Roster: Joe Mixon, Woody Marks, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, and J.J. Taylor
About: The Texans have potential, anchored by a great lead back. In his first season with the Texans, Mixon ran for more than 1,000 yards despite only appearing in 14 games. He’s the rock that anchors the backfield. Behind him, there are options like Pierce, Ogunbowale, and the rookie Marks. That gives the Texans some upside, but not a lot of certainty. Still, Mixon is a proven veteran and enough to land them on this list.
#9: New England Patriots
On the Roster: Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, and Treveyon Williams
About: The Patriots top the first half of the list. The team returns Stevenson, who is still ostensibly the lead. He has had some great seasons but struggled to just 801 yards and less than four yards per carry. The team also has Gibson, a decent pass-catcher who adds some good depth to this group. The Wild Card is the rookie Henderson, with some explosive ability as a three-down back. He is the future, and if the future comes in 2025, this backfield could be special.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
