The Browns are in good shape at running back with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, two young players with their best football ahead of them.
But "best player available" means "best player available," regardless of position.
When the Browns enter Day 2 of the NFL Draft with the first pick of the second round, 32nd overall, here are three running backs who could be available and possibly considered with such a selection.
Derrick Henry - Alabama
The Heisman Trophy winner set a number of records during what was essentially a perfect junior season for the bruising Crimson Tide running back. At 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, Henry battered his way to 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns in a year that was capped with a national championship. This kind of production has been a trademark of Henry's dating back to high school, when he set the U.S. record with 12,124 yards during his prep career. After Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott, who is expected to be a high first-round pick, Henry will be considered by most to be the best available running back. It'll just be a matter of how long he has to wait on a team to call his name.
Devontae Booker - Utah
Though his senior season was short-circuited by a knee injury, Booker is considered one of the best running backs in the draft and a prototypical fit for pro-style offenses. The 5-foot-11 219-pound Booker is compact and strong enough to gain yards through the middle of his offensive line and versatile enough to be relied upon in the passing game. Booker averaged more than 126 rushing yards in the 10 games he played as a senior and compiled more than 300 receiving yards in each of his two seasons with the Utes.
Kenneth Dixon - Louisiana Tech
Similarly sized to Booker, Dixon was a 5-foot-10, 215-pound dynamo for the Bulldogs during his four seasons with the program. Dixon racked up a whopping 87 touchdowns during his FBS career, with 26 coming as a senior. According to his NFL.com draft profile, Dixon "has all the traits of being a quality, three¬-down starter in the NFL but his frame and suspect pass protection could be long-term concerns." His fumbling is also a concern, but his tough running and knack for the end zone make him a top-five running back in this year's draft.
