2019 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Josh Jacobs

2019 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2019 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State Trey Adams, OT, Washington Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky Zach Allen, DE, Boston College DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State Garrett Bradbury, C, N.C. State A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State Devin Bush, LB, Michigan Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State Noah Fant, TE, Iowa Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma Ryan Finley, QB, N.C. State Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan Will Grier, QB, West Virginia Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico State Damien Harris, RB, Alabama N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa Joe Jackson, DE, Miami Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama Jalen Jelks, DE/OLB, Oregon Elgton Jenkins, C, Mississippi State Daniel Jones, QB, Duke Dremont Jones, DT, Ohio State Tre Lamar, LB, Clemson Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss Drew Lock, QB, Missouri Bryce Love, RB, Stanford Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson Byron Murphy, CB, Washington Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma Ed Oliver, DT, Houston Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan Jachai Polite, DE, Florida Taylor Rapp, S, Washington Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State Darnell Savage, S, Maryland Jeff Simmons, DT, Mississippi State Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State Devin White, LB, LSU Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson Greedy Williams, CB, LSU Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama Oshane Ximines, LB, Old Dominion Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

Josh Jacobs, 5-10/220 Running Back Alabama

Josh Jacobs Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Impactful feature back

Instinctive, natural runner

Downhill runner

Receiving ability

Soft hands

Tough to tackle

Picks up yards after contact

Excellent body lean to run low

Runs behind pads

Bends at the knee

Keeps feet going after contact

Has a second gear in the open field

Fast to the hole

Play-maker

Good vision

Wears down defenses

Impressive lateral quickness

Decisive runner

Capable of game-changing plays

Runs well in the second half

Skilled short-yardage back

Can change the complexion of an offense as a play-making runner

Special teams ability

Athletic upside

Weaknesses:

Never was the feature back at Alabama

Never handled a big work load as the feature back

Not very elusive in the open field

Summary: Alabama has been churning out a steady stream of NFL running backs under Nick Saban, and Jacobs is the top running back prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft despite never being a starter for the Crimson Tide. He backed up Damien Harris yet still managed to impress pro evaluators.

In 2016 as a freshman, Jacobs averaged 6.6 yards per carry for 564 yards and four touchdowns. That season as well as in his sophomore campaign, he caught 14 passes out of the backfield. In 2018. Jacobs only carried the ball 120 times, but turned that into 640 yards – 5.3 average – with 11 touchdowns. He also had 20 receptions for 247 yards and three scores. With Harris leaving for the NFL, Jacobs could have returned to Alabama, but he wisely entered the 2019 NFL Draft, for which he is the top running back prospect, and is also coming into the league with very little wear-and-tear. Jacobs took only 252 carries over his three-year collegiate career.



For the NFL, Jacobs is a hard-charging power runner with a strong build and a first-step burst to hit the hole before it closes. He then displays another gear to get to the secondary and is tough for defensive backs to tackle as he typically delivers the blow with ferocity. Jacobs runs angry and displays an intimidating style. With his size and speed, he could be a devastating one-cut downhill running back. He is not very elusive, as he is more of a downhill runner who will run through contact rather than try to juke defenders in the open field.

In the passing game, Jacobs is well suited for the current NFL. He runs good routes and has soft hands. Jacobs is a real threat in the passing game, ripping off yards in chunks. As a receiver, Jacobs shows a surprising ability to adjust to the ball. With his speed and power, he is a mismatch weapon in the passing game because linebackers will have a very difficult time running with him and defensive backs are going to be hard pressed to tackle him.

For added value, Jacobs has returning experience on special teams. Thus even if he struggles to adjust to his NFL playbook early in his career, he could contribute as a rotational back and special teams player. With his size, power, speed and running and receiving abilities, Jacobs looks like he could be an impactful three-down starter quickly in the NFL. Jacobs has serious athletic upside, and it would not surprise this analyst if he is a Pro Bowler early in his career. During the 2019 NFL Draft, Jacobs is worthy of being a pick in the back half of the first round, and he should be selected quickly if he makes it to the second round.



Player Comparison: Ronnie Brown. Jacobs’ running style and versatility remind me of Brown. Both have quickness, power, a thick build, and receiving ability. Brown was a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, and Jacobs is a likely first-rounder this year.

NFL Matches: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Washington

There are a few teams that could consider taking Jacobs late in the first round or early in the second round during the 2019 NFL Draft. Perhaps the highest that Jacobs could hope to go would be to Miami, which needs to replace Frank Gore. Going 13th overall, however, is high, so Jacobs is probably more of a candidate for the Dolphins if he were to slide to the second round.

The Texans need to upgrade their running back talent, and Jacobs would be a really good value for Houston at pick No. 23.

Oakland has two picks in the 20s and one high second-round pick, so there are three potential selections that could be used on Jacobs. The Raiders need a running back of the future, and Jacobs would be a good scheme fit for Jon Gruden.

The Eagles need a No. 1 running back, and Jacobs would be a good scheme fit for them. He also would provide nice bang for the buck at pick No. 25.

At the end of the first round, Jacobs could be in play for Kansas City, which needs a replacement for Kareem Hunt.

In the second round, one option could be Tampa Bay. The Bucs drafted Ronald Jones in the second round last year, but he had a disappointing rookie season and Bruce Arians may want a different type of back. Still, it seems unlikely that Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht would be ready to give up on Jones.

It is hard to see Jacobs getting to the Redskins’ second-round pick or them passing on him. They need running back help with Adrian Peterson heading to free agency and Derrius Guice coming off a serious injury.

2019 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2019 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State Trey Adams, OT, Washington Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky Zach Allen, DE, Boston College DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State Garrett Bradbury, C, N.C. State A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State Devin Bush, LB, Michigan Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State Noah Fant, TE, Iowa Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma Ryan Finley, QB, N.C. State Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan Will Grier, QB, West Virginia Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico State Damien Harris, RB, Alabama N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa Joe Jackson, DE, Miami Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama Jalen Jelks, DE/OLB, Oregon Elgton Jenkins, C, Mississippi State Daniel Jones, QB, Duke Dremont Jones, DT, Ohio State Tre Lamar, LB, Clemson Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss Drew Lock, QB, Missouri Bryce Love, RB, Stanford Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson Byron Murphy, CB, Washington Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma Ed Oliver, DT, Houston Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan Jachai Polite, DE, Florida Taylor Rapp, S, Washington Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State Darnell Savage, S, Maryland Jeff Simmons, DT, Mississippi State Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State Devin White, LB, LSU Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson Greedy Williams, CB, LSU Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama Oshane Ximines, LB, Old Dominion Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

RELATED LINKS:


2019 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


2019 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








NFL Picks - Nov. 20


2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20


NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4