The 2025 NFL Draft introduced several highly-regarded running back prospects into the league, after what was considered a baron year in 2024. Bucky Irving and Tyrone Tracy Jr. made a splash in their rookie year, but several of the top prospects failed to usurp their veteran teammates.
That’s not expected to be the case this time around, with multiple established NFL running backs likely fearing for their starting roles.
Five Veteran Running Backs Who Could Lose Their Jobs Following the 2025 NFL Draft
Spending an early-round pick on a running back is a huge show of confidence in the player’s ability. Five running backs were taken in the opening two rounds of the 2025 draft, with several more top prospects following later on.
In this article, we’ll take a look at five veteran running backs who could be negatively affected by their team’s draft choices.
I’ve left out the Las Vegas Raiders running back room, as there’s no mystery surrounding Ashton Jeanty’s role there. I’ve also not included Jaylen Warren of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he stands to concede time to Kaleb Johnson, it’s time that he conceded to Najee Harris last year.
Najee Harris (Los Angeles Chargers)
Speaking of Harris, he’s the first player on this list. The former Alabama running back was pursued heavily by his new coach, Jim Harbaugh, ahead of joining Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa. So when Harris joined the Los Angeles Chargers, he could have been forgiven for believing he’d be the starter.
While that may still be the case, the team’s decision to draft Omarion Hampton in the first round certainly casts some doubt over Harris’ role. The Former Steeler regularly split time with Warren in Pittsburgh, something he may be doing with Hampton in 2025.
Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots)
The New England Patriots have done a brilliant job of building a competitive team this offseason. Several veterans were brought in during free agency, while Drake Maye has been given multiple new weapons to play with after a solid rookie year.
One of those weapons is second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson is arguably the most explosive back in the 2025 draft class, while his pass protection also stands out from the crowd.
Rhamondre Stevenson’s rushing efficiency dropped to a career-low 3.9 yards per carry in 2024, something that will likely see him overtaken immediately by his new teammate.
Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns)
Jerome Ford is arguably one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL. Improving each year, Ford averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2024, but his status as a third-down back is unlikely to change anytime soon.
After seeing more opportunities due to the catastrophic knee injury suffered by Nick Chubb, Ford will now likely be playing second fiddle to Quinshon Judkins in 2025. That role may suit Ford better, with Judkins taking the early-down work as he did for Henderson at Ohio State. Nevertheless, Ford will likely be frustrated to be overlooked for a starting role again.
Jaleel McLaughlin (Denver Broncos)
The Denver Broncos’ need for a running back was so glaring that they were regularly linked with Hampton in the first round. The team instead addressed its defense in Round 1, but landed a new running back in the second round.
RJ Harvey exploded in 2024, leading the Big-12 with 6.8 yards per carry and 22 rushing touchdowns. Only six teams averaged fewer rushing yards per attempt than Denver did in 2024, with no more success coming in the touchdown department. Without Bo Nix’s four rushing touchdowns, Denver would have managed just eight all season, better than only the Dallas Cowboys.
Harvey is unlikely to take all of the work, though, as Sean Payton is known to prefer a committee approach. But given Harvey’s smaller build, the big-bodied Audric Estime may complement the rookie more effectively.
Devin Singletary (New York Giants)
The New York Giants selected the intriguing Cam Skattebo in the fourth round of the draft. The Arizona State prospect is an exciting mix of power, agility, and incredible contact balance. Similarly to Josh Jacobs, Skattebo is able to operate as both an elusive and a power runner, with a hunger to gain extra yards after contact.
Skattebo could completely take over the Giants’ running game; he certainly has the ability. But the aforementioned Tracy performed remarkably well in his rookie season, and was drafted just one round later in 2024 than Skattebo was the following year.
Devin Singletary, meanwhile, may have reason to be concerned. The Giants have built a young offensive core in recent years, with the plan now to eventually slide Jaxson Dart into the starting quarterback role. Skattebo joins Dart, Tracy, Malik Nabers, and Theo Johnson on the Giants offense, while Singletary is a free agent next year.