The Carolina Panthers made a significant move in the NFL draft by trading up to select Texas running back Jonathan Brooks with the 46th pick, ending the long wait for the first running back to be drafted. This marked the second-latest selection for the first running back in NFL draft history, with the only longer wait occurring in 2014 when Bishop Sankey was taken 54th overall by the Tennessee Titans.
In the common draft era since 1967, there has only been one other instance where no running backs were selected in the first round, which happened two years ago when Breece Hall was the first running back off the board at No. 36 to the New York Jets. The reluctance to use premium picks on running backs in recent years can be attributed to the league's emphasis on passing offenses and a shift away from workhorse running backs.
