2024 NFL Combine preview: 5 running backs the Detroit Lions could draft

The 2024 NFL Combine officially kicks off on Sunday, February 25, but we won’t see the prospects in action until the on-field drills are televised on Thursday, February 29. Our coverage of this year’s event is underway, as we will be publishing a series of articles previewing each position group and taking you right up to the televised coverage.

So far, we have already previewed which quarterback prospects the Detroit Lions should be scouting, and in this article, we take a look at a handful of running backs that should be on general manager Brad Holmes’ radar.

Team need

The Lions opened the season with four running backs and a fullback on the active roster, but after injuries to Jason Cabinda and Zonovan Knight, the Lions were forced to adjust. They tried a few more RB4s for special teams purposes, but nothing clicked and the Lions ended the season with just three running backs on the active roster.

Currently, the Lions have Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery locked into co-starter roles, Craig Reynolds and Knight (who alternated RB3 and RB4 duties) are exclusive rights free agents, meaning they’ll likely return, and practice squaders Jermar Jefferson and Jake Funk signed futures deals.

While they will likely retain nearly their entire 2023 unit, the Lions are always in the business of upgrading their depth, so it’s possible the Lions could grab yet another running back if the opportunity presents itself.

What to watch for

For running backs, the Lions tend to prefer traits like balance, explosiveness, reaction timing, and passing game contributions. So when watching, keep an eye on their balance through the hips, how they get in and out of their breaks, how quickly they accelerate through cuts, ball location on passing drills, and how natural they are at catching the ball.

Here’s an example of Gibbs in the “Duce Staley drill” from last year’s combine. Notice the elite quickness with his feet, with zero wasted movement, all while maintaining perfect balance. This is teach tape for how to execute this drill.

With the Lions in a good spot with their running backs room, I am suggesting Detroit fans focus on Day 3 or UDFA running back prospects that fit the mold for what the team is looking for. Those preferences include familiarity with gap-blocking schemes (the Lions use both gap and zone, but colleges do not use gap as much) and pass-blocking skills.

Kimani Vidal, Troy (5-foot-8, 215 pounds)

Vidal led the NCAA with 1,661 rushing yards in 2023, with 1056 of them coming after contact, including 19 runs of 15+ yards, and 14 touchdowns. He is comfortable running behind both gap and zone blocking schemes and is just one of two players in college football (Michigan’s Blake Corum the other) to have at least 100 carries in gap blocking scheme each of the last two years.

In the…