The 2016 NFL Combine proved one thing: that Ezekiel Elliott is the only true first-round running back. Elliott's intangibles are off the wall, and he is one of the very few every-down backs a team can find. He is an efficient pass blocker who can be a franchise's workhorse running back. The only question that remains is where he will be taken in the first round?
NFL franchises could have come to a consensus about running backs, and we could mainly see them as second-round picks as the league continues to devalue the position. Elliott, however, is special and he has the same buzz that Todd Gurley created as he entered the 2015 NFL Draft. Gurley ended up being the Los Angeles Rams most dangerous offensive weapon and will likely play a massive role in the Rams rebuilding process. Elliott has shown NFL teams he is ready to be a starter when he comes into the league and this could mean a top 10 team could be looking to utilize Elliott's talents.
There are a ton of needs for the teams beginning the draft so running back may be too much of a luxury to take so early however there are several teams that cannot be ignored. No. 1 is clearly the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have looked terrible without a quality quarterback, but still finished as one of the top teams in the league when it came to rushing. Dallas also lost its starting running back in DeMarco Murray, who went to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency prior to the 2015 season. The Cowboys instead used Darren McFadden as their primary back for the 2015 season, however they may look to the future in 2016.
Dallas will have the fourth overall pick, while that may be too high to draft a running back; there are a ton of teams looking to draft either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff. The Cowboys will likely get a shot at one of them, and could use that to help lure some quarterback needy teams into a trade. If this happens, the Cowboys would likely be looking to take Elliott wherever they land.
There are other viable teams looking to make a move for Elliott a little later in the first round. With the eighth overall selection, the Miami Dolphins could look to replace Lamar Miller - he is likely to leave in free agency - with Elliott as he will be the most dynamic running back of the draft class. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants could also have some interest, as neither team has a dominant starting running back.
