C.J. Spiller could be climbing the ladder

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on March 29, 2010, 7:31 AM EDT

There’s a sense in some league circles that only a truly special running back is worthy of a top-ten draft pick.

If so, it means that some regard Clemson’s C.J. Spiller as a truly special running back.

We’re hearing talk of teams possibly trying to invade the lower reaches of the top 10 in order to get a crack at Spiller, with rumors currently focusing on the Dolphins and the Giants.

The Dolphins currently hold the No. 12 pick; the Giants are at 15.

Since 2006, only three running backs have been chosen among the first 10 selections:  Darren McFadden, No. 4 in 2008, Adrian Peterson, No. 7 in 2007, and Reggie Bush, No. 2 in 2006.  In 2005, three running back were taken in the top five.

That year, the Dolphins drafted Ronnie Brown with the second overall pick.  If the rumors are true, they could be looking to supplant Brown with Spiller.

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36 responses to “C.J. Spiller could be climbing the ladder”

  1. The kid is special………whatever team gets him has a playmaker that can take it to the house on kickoffs, punts, receiving, and rushing. The guy has 21 career TDs of over 50+ yards……not an everydown back, but what team doesn’t have a 2-back system. Immediate impact player……

  2. I hope the Skins can trade down to the 49ers and pick this guy up with the 13th. I don’t know who to go after with the 17th then, but maybe that left G/T from Idaho would be left? I think that would be some smart maneuvering.

  3. I don’t think that Miami would trade up for a rb. They have too many other areas to address before upgrading at rb. It doesn’t make any sense unless they feel that this kid is the second coming of Walter Payton or Barry Sanders.

  5. I’d like CJ Spiller on the Phins but we have more pressing needs. Not to say he’s in the same league, but Ronnie and Ricky are serviceable and Lex Hilliard had some nice carries as well once Ronnie hit IR.
    I hope they address Safety, WR or NT first.

  6. Hard to believe a top ten pick but the fins at 12 should have a shot at him if they think they have room in their backfield this year.
    He has Reggie Bush type skills but whether that is a good thing or a red flag is another question.

  7. Ronnie Brown was a better prospect and still is a better player than Spiller. There are bigger needs on D for the Dolphins. There are even bigger needs on the O than RB. I would never draft a RB in the top half of the first who is not an every down back. The kid is talented and will be a good pro but id I were GM I’d take him in the 2nd half of the first. With the Dolphins and Giants o-lines as good as they are they could sign undrafted Rich Eisen. Check out his 40 time.
    http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/09000d5d816b2dca/Rich-Eisen-s-40-yd-dash

  8. Third round back that will go way to early because of the sucess of Chris Johnson. Too small.

  9. Overrated.
    He won’t be anything close to Chris Johnson and I think too many people are expecting/thinking he might be.

  10. What a great fit for Jacksonville at 10… Spiller and MJD, are you kidding me…

  11. Remember Reggie Bush?? You can find value at RB after the 1st round. You want a little speed guy to compliment your bruiser? You can get Best or McCluster after the 1st round. I think Matthews is the best RB in the draft because of his versatility. Need a power back to split the load with your sped guy? Gerhart, Dwyer. Need a one cut and go type RB (Denver, Atllanta, Washington, other zone blockers) Ben Tate. Spiller is high on draft boards for the same reason Clausen is, a lack of elite talent at the position in this years draft. He makes big exciting plays, but the NFL is faster and plays more disciplined D. OT’s, DT’s, rush DE/LB’s, S’s and CB’s will dominate the 1st round. Other than OT this is a defensive 1st round if it were based purely on talent and not need.

  12. What a great fit for Jacksonville at 10… Spiller and MJD, are you kidding me..
    WR Dez Bryant should be the only offensive player the Jags look at. Every unit on their D could be upgraded.

  13. The Browns would be wise to trade down and give the 7th pick up to the team who wants Spiller. This should only be done if Eric Berry is off the board. Earl Thomas in the mid teens along the additional picks sounds good to me!

  14. Ruggerland,
    You contradict yourself in your comment. If Spiller is only a high pick due to lack of elite talent, then that doesn’t say much for Best (smaller, slower, and more concussed than Spiller) or McCluster (smaller and less proven than Spiller) or Gerhart (played in the defenseless PAC-10 and is Tommy Vardell reincarnated). Spiller will be just fine making the transition to the NFL.

  15. I think the Giants will take him at 15 if he’s there, I have a really strong feeling the the Giants like him alot just because of how they sent everyone and there moms to his pro day, but as much as I think that I dont think Jerry is trading up for anyone and I dont think he makes it to 15 because eventually his value will over weight a teams need, a team will have him so high on there board that they’ll have to take him before 15. 4 year player with monster numbers!

  16. Ideally the Fins get a bite on Ronnie–close the deal with a top 15 pick obtained in the transaction—then can attend to defense and get spiller at the same time.
    What is that you say? Are you telling me there’s no Santa? Really? Oh well, I can dream can’t I?

  17. You guys who scoff at Spiller are nuts. Third round back? Did you even watch this kid in College?
    They said the same things about chris Johnson when he came out and look at him now. If he can run between the tackles he’s going to have a great career, ’cause he’s got all the speed and elusiveness you love in a back. And this kid can be used to run, receive and run back kicks.
    Not convinced he’s an every down back but he can be a great asset for somebody’s team.

  18. Spiller is sick. People keep wanting to knock his size and say the league is only fluffing him because of Chris Johnson’s success. Yes, CJ did get nicked up this season, but he did not miss a single start AND he was the only D1 RB to score a TD in each of his team’s games. Hard to talk poorly about a guy who models himself – on and off the field – after Warrick Dunn. And he’s faster than Warrick ever was.

  19. Ricky is done after this year and Ronnie is one play away from injury it seems every year. I’d love to see it happen, despite there being other needs. But I believe the first round should be reserved for someone that really makes a huge difference on the field, and for Miami it should boil down to either Bryant or Spiller. I know most experts have them taking Williams at NT, but word is they have their eye on Georgia’s tackle, which would be available maybe in the 4th or 5th round.

  20. Reasonable says..Third round back that will go way to early because of the sucess of Chris Johnson. Too small.
    ————————————-
    Frank Gore was once a 3 rounder who had 2 acl tears in college, but ced benson went in the top 5 in the same draft, point i am making doesnt matter where a guy is picked if he can play the cream will always rise to the top

  22. If the Niners, Dolphins or Giants are interested, the Jaguars will trade back. They need extra picks.

  24. Taking a RB early is just not smart period. I dont care if you have AP or Spiller, your not going anywhere without a QB or OL. Plus you can get comparable guys like McCluster later on.

  25. # DieHardSkinsFan21 says: March 29, 2010 7:45 AM
    I hope the Skins can trade down to the 49ers and pick this guy up with the 13th. I don’t know who to go after with the 17th then, but maybe that left G/T from Idaho would be left? I think that would be some smart maneuvering.
    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
    I hope your not meaning that the Niners would trade the 13th & 17th picks for the #4? This does not even add up on the trade value chart. C’mon.

  26. Attention Skins fans…give up this pipedream about San Fran giving you 13 and 17 for 4. It makes absolutely no sense. It’s not like San Fran is one player away from the Super Bowl. Maybe if you through in your 3rd rounder…oh wait you don’t have one. Genius front office over there.

  27. Dolfan34 says:
    March 29, 2010 9:49 AM
    You guys who scoff at Spiller are nuts. Third round back? Did you even watch this kid in College?
    They said the same things about chris Johnson when he came out and look at him now. If he can run between the tackles he’s going to have a great career, ’cause he’s got all the speed and elusiveness you love in a back. And this kid can be used to run, receive and run back kicks.
    Not convinced he’s an every down back but he can be a great asset for somebody’s team.
    ————————————————-
    A.) Third down back. (not tthird round back.)
    B.) Think Felix Jones/Reggie Bush. (Not worth a 1rst round pick.)
    C.) He doesn’t break tackels.
    D.) it doesn’t matter, he’ll go in the first and his value will be aurgued at this time next year.
    E.) If you can’t be THE GUY your not worth the first round value. He is a complimentry piece.

  28. The NYG have RBs Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, DJ ware, Andre Brown, and Gartrell Johnson on the roster right now. I know everyone is down on Jacobs, but the front office knows what he brings to the team. Plus Spiller couldn’t replace Jacobs anyway. He is more of a Bradshaw type RB. Nope, full up on RBs here! I think they should get a LB in the first round.

  29. tadkins81 says:
    March 29, 2010 11:23 AM
    Attention Skins fans…give up this pipedream about San Fran giving you 13 and 17 for 4. It makes absolutely no sense. It’s not like San Fran is one player away from the Super Bowl. Maybe if you through in your 3rd rounder…oh wait you don’t have one. Genius front office over there.
    ———————————————
    Err, should read throw, not through. Monday.

  31. spiller does seam to have real talent.but it is not what is needed at this time on this team.wr/nt/s are all more important right now and if the fins can somehow address these three pressing positions they could really make some noise in 10′. and i will add that they don’t need anyone to sweep the n.y. jokes but they will need these positions upgraded to beat some of the other real teams they have to play this coming year.

  32. I’m just hoping someone wants to trade up a fews spots and give the Fins another pick.
    We have many needs and this is a deep draft.

  33. Given the Giants paper mache defense this past season, if Jerry Reece trades up to get Spiller, he better be the best the League has ever seen or A LOT of PSL holders are going to want Jerry’s head on a stick. He’s a luxury the Giants can’t afford right now.

  34. He solves the return game issue immediately, and is great in the open field as a true 3rd down back. I cant diasagree with the LB issue. You need to score lots of points in this league now, and a great offense helps to protect the defense.

  35. heck if we cannot get spiller or dez, i say why not this guy jacoby ford, or javid best…Then we focus on defense…….but get ford and a another big and fast receiver, ford will open up the game with returns like sproles only faster…….

  36. east96street,
    I think the Giant defense will be back this year. Hopefully the new DC can add some Fewell to the fire! If the starters can stay healthy it looks to be a good year. But then again any team could probably say that every year.

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