Sean Tucker 2023 NFL Draft Profile
With the running back position becoming less and less of a draft priority, teams are now finding good value in the later rounds. This year has Bijan Robinson as that exception, (check his draft profile here), but someone you could possibly count on to produce early is Syracuse’s Sean Tucker. Tucker was quite productive in college, but does he have the tools to translate to the next level? Let’s talk about it.
In 2021, Sean Tucker finished sixth in the country in rushing yards with 1,496, paired with 12 touchdowns on the ground. In 2022, he cooled just slightly, finishing with 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns. Syracuse started the year 6-0 before fumbling down the stretch, ending the year at 7-5. It was a tale of two halves for Tucker, as during the 6-win stretch, he averaged 107.3 yards per game, but in the final seven games, he averaged just 59.4.
Let’s start with the positives. Tucker has very good balance as he runs low to the ground, giving him the ability to bounce off tacklers. He seems to thrive while running stretch plays, as he has very good cuts giving him the ability to get downfield. Thick legs help him power through arm tackles as well. He can catch out of the backfield, as well, but that is an area he could improve upon. He carried the ball over two hundred times in the last two seasons, showing the ability to be a three-down back if needed. Of note, he had only four fumbles over the last two years.
A concern I have is his lack of production against big-time teams. Against NC State, Clemson, Florida State and Notre Dame this year, his high was 98 yards, and only scored in two of those games. Tucker lacks pass-protection skills, something that is becoming a valuable commodity in a pass-heavy league. He has good speed, but does he have good enough speed to bounce outside? While he is thick in stature, he comes in on the smaller side for backs at 5-foot-9.
I like Sean Tucker. I think he can be a very solid rotational piece for a team with an established lead back. Could I pick him with a top-100 pick? I could go either way. I’m not sure he’s in my top five running backs in this class. I’d give him a day-three grade and someone teams should target in the fourth and fifth rounds.
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