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The 2013 NFL Draft marked the first time that the first round passed without a running back being selected. It is possible that the 2014 draft could be the second. However, what this year's running back class may lack in top-end talent, it makes up for with depth.
There are quite a few mid-round running back prospects that should interest a team who could want to add a running back, but have more pressing concerns elsewhere.
The New York Giants, as it so happens, are just such a team, and West Virginia's Charles Sims is just such a player.
Pros
- Good size (6-feet, 214 pounds), with the strength to break arm tackles
- Excellent short-area quickness
- Fluid cuts
- Excellent hands. Catches passes like a wide receiver. (70 catches as a freshman, WVU's leading receiver last year)
- Willing blocker and capable pass protector
Cons
- Will be a 24-year-old rookie (Graduated from Houston, and transferred to West Virginia for his final year of eligibility)
- Sometimes runs too upright
- Lacks long speed
- Rarely, if ever, played in an I-formation (Houston and West Virginia both used the shotgun or pistol sets pretty much exclusively)
Does He Fit With The Giants?
This depends on what kind of running back the Giants could want. If they are looking for a "pure" runner, there are certainly better options out there, such as Carlos Hyde, Bishop Sankey, Andre Williams, or Tre Mason.
However, if they are looking of a Swiss Army Knife, Marshall Faulk-type weapon, then they will take a long look at Sims.
Sims is an incredibly versatile offensive weapon. He's a capable runner, a willing blocker who is decent at it(good by college running back standards). In the passing game he runs smooth routes and catches the ball well wherever he is lined up (out of the backfield, slot, or even split out wide.
Prospect Video
Charles Sims vs TCU (2013) by Aaron Aloysius
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 74
Mocking The Draft - 62
CBS Sports - 129
Draft Countdown - 88
Draft Tek - 117
Final Thoughts
There's some wide variation on how people feel about Charles Sims. He isn't in the top-5 as far as pure running backs go. However, there aren't many backs that combine size, explosiveness (if not speed), running, and catching like Sims. He's a true "Jack Of All Trades" and would be a nifty chess piece for a crafty OC to move around the offense and create matchups with.