Mike Renner· Aug 18, 2026
Renner ranks the top 10 running backs in the 2027 NFL Draft class, calling it a special group in which the top three are future first-rounders, and assigns each an early draft grade ranging from Round 1 to early Day 3.
“The top three backs in this class all look like future first-rounders, so there's no shame in coming in third on this list.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 11 mock draft picks and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
12 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksHollywood SmothersAug 18, 2026
Hollywood Smothers to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Hollywood Smothers ... Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksRushawn BakerAug 18, 2026
Rushawn Baker to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Wayshawn Parker ... Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksRushawn BakerAug 18, 2026
Rushawn Baker to be picked “top-100 pick” (picks 1–100)
“After barely cracking the 1,000-yard mark last year, he should be a top-100 pick with another big season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksAneyas WilliamsAug 18, 2026
Aneyas Williams to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Aneyas Williams ... Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksAhmad HardyAug 18, 2026
Ahmad Hardy to be picked “Round 1”
“Ahmad Hardy ... Early grade: Round 1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksNate CarterAug 18, 2026
Nate Carter to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)
“Nate Frazier ... Early Grade: Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsAug 18, 2026
“Positional rankings ... RB ... Ahmad Hardy ... Jadan Baugh ... Kewan Lacy ... Isaac Brown ... Nate Frazier ... Mark Fletcher Jr. ... Wayshawn Parker ... Aneyas Williams ... Hollywood Smothers ... Waymond Jordan”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksIsaac BrownAug 18, 2026
Isaac Brown to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)
“Isaac Brown ... Early grade: Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJadan BaughAug 18, 2026
Jadan Baugh to be picked “Round 1”
“Jadan Baugh ... Early grade: Round 1 ... Baugh is yet another back who has little more to prove to become a first-rounder next spring.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKewan LacyAug 18, 2026
Kewan Lacy to be picked “Round 1”
“Kewan Lacy ... Early grade: Round 1 ... The top three backs in this class all look like future first-rounders”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksLaMont JordanAug 18, 2026
LaMont Jordan to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Waymond Jordan ... Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksMark Fletcher Jr.Miami DolphinsAug 18, 2026
Mark Fletcher Jr. to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Mark Fletcher Jr. ... Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler DeSenaRoster Spot Calls · Kevin ColemanHit · 100DeSena expects Chris Bell to function as Miami's X-receiver, with Caleb Douglas as the deep-threat Z and Malik Washington in the slot, and considers Bell, Douglas, Washington and fifth-round rookie Kevin Coleman locks to make the 53-man roster.
- Alain PoupartRoster Spot Calls · Keith Cooper Jr.Miss · 0Poupart's third 53-man roster projection of 2026 for the Dolphins names which players make the roster and which are cut at each position group.
- Mike MoraitisRoster Spot Calls · Andre Jones Jr.Hit · 100Moraitis expects Andre Jones Jr. to hold a spot on Miami's 53-man roster after being signed off Buffalo's practice squad, with a significant special teams role under coordinator Chris Tabor.
- Alain PoupartRoster Spot Calls · Jalen TolbertHit · 100Previewing the Dolphins' preseason finale and roster cutdown, Poupart states Malik Willis is locked in as the starting quarterback, Mark Gronowski is effectively gone, and identifies Greg Dulcich and Will Kacmarek as the only certainties at tight end while treating several receivers as settled roster locks.
- Alain PoupartRoster Spot Calls · Chris JohnsonHit · 100Poupart sorts the Dolphins roster into tiers ahead of the 53-man cutdown, naming 28 players as locks to make the roster and eight more as borderline locks who more than likely make it. He also expects Quinn Ewers to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Malik Willis, and says Darrell Baker Jr. and Storm Duck will start the season on PUP.
- Nick ShookPosition Order Calls · Olaivavega IoaneMiss · 35Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ryan WilsonMock Draft Picks · J.J. McCarthyMiss · 37Recalling his pre-draft evaluation, Wilson notes he had ranked J.J. McCarthy as the fifth quarterback in the 2024 class and given him a second-round grade rather than a first-round one, citing the gap between Michigan's system and NFL demands.
- Lance ZierleinMock Draft Picks · Jeremiyah LoveHit · 100Zierlein laid out his final mock draft: Jeremiah Love at No. 3 to Arizona, Sonny Styles at No. 4 to Robert Saleh's team, and Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5. He also called Styles the only first-round linebacker in the class and said Ty Simpson is a lock to be a first-round pick, most likely to Arizona.
- Nick ShookMock Draft Picks · Max IheanachorHit · 88Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · K.C. ConcepcionClose · 68Rosenthal disagrees most with Casey Concepcion being left out of the first round, arguing he could go as high as the top 15 and certainly won't last past receiver-needy teams in the late twenties.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Keyron CrawfordHit · 81In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Carnell TateHit · 92Jeremiah says Denver, not Kansas City, will be the clear favorite in the AFC West this season; he also puts Carnell Tate sixth and Monroe Freeling twentieth on his prospect board, mocks Tate to Cleveland at No. 6, and expects Georgia receiver Branch to be a Day 2 pick after a strong pro day.