Fifth-round running back options for the Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
The acquisition of running back James Conner back on April 13th filled a hole for the Arizona Cardinals. Kenyan Drake had signed a free-agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, and the club needed a ball-carrier to help take some of the load off of talented youngster Chase Edmonds. Given the fact that Conner was inked to just a one-year deal, there’s still a chance that the Cards could elect to add another body to the position during next week’s NFL Draft.
Top-ranked prospects like Najee Harris, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams have been mentioned as possibilities for the Cardinals. To get one of those players, however, the franchise would most likely have to fork out a first or second selection. Another option is that Arizona could simply wait until the fifth round (the next pick the team has at the moment) to address the issue.
One individual who could still be available for the Cards at that point is the University at Buffalo’s Jaret Patterson. The Bulls starter amassed some impressive production that included 4,155 yards from scrimmage and 53 total touchdowns during his three years at the school. Size-wise, the 5’9,195 pound Patterson is almost an exact clone of the 5’9, 205 pound Edmonds.
Another running back who the Cardinals could consider at that juncture is UCLA’s Demetric Felton. The 5’10, 200 pounder, who started his college career as a wide receiver, opened some eyes as a ball-carrier in 2020. Felton totaled 668 rushing yards,159 receiving yards and eight total scores in just six games for the Bruins last fall.
The University of Oklahoma’s Rhamondre Stevenson could also tempt Arizona’s front office. At 6’0, 246 pounds, the 23-year old would bring size and strength to Big Red’s backfield. During his two campaigns with the Sooners, Stevenson rumbled for 1,180 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns.
One last back worth mentioning is Ohio State’s Trey Sermon. The 6’1, 215 pounder ran for 870 yards and four scores for the Buckeyes last season. Sermon spent his first three years playing for the University of Oklahoma, where he racked up 2,076 rushing yards, 391 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns for the Sooners.