Analysis

3/18/23

6 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: Washington Commanders

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team’s Athletic Archetypes series. These pieces will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro-day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in a combine drill or if the combine data is not available. Pro-day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected on pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source, with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup. 

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | CHI | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | SF | SEA | TB

Commanders RB Prototype

Martin Mayhew (2021-present)

Sample size: 17

• Martin Mayhew was hired away from the San Francisco 49ers to fill the hole left with the Washington Commanders after the ousting of disgraced then-president/de facto general manager Bruce Allen in the final days of 2019.
• Mayhew spent the four prior seasons in San Francisco, working as the vice president of player personnel from 2019-2020. 
• In 2016, Mayhew served as director of football operations for the New York Giants.
• From 2008-2015, Mayhew operated as the Detroit Lions’ general manager. 

• Mayhew embraces running backs of all heights and weights, regardless of their intended role.
• Among the 17 running backs in Mayhew’s sample, 14 sport arms 30 inches or longer. 
• All three players with sub-30.0-inch arms have been added to Mayhew teams since 2020 though. Jaret Patterson possesses the sample’s shortest arms (28.75 inches) and was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021. The trend suggests Mayhew has recently scrapped the 30.0-inch limit from his list of requirements.
• Hand size is irrelevant.
• The 40-yard dash is irrelevant.
• The sample’s 1.59-second average for the 10-yard split is extremely reflective of the sample’s general identity; 11 of 17 running backs registered a time from 1.57-1.62 seconds. The outliers consist of two running backs from 1.51-1.52 seconds, one at 1.55 and two at 1.64. Data for the remaining player cannot be found.
•  The short shuttle is irrelevant. 
• The three-cone drill could be Mayhew’s skeleton key, but data trends blur the picture. 
• Among seven running backs from 2010-2015, just one ran slower than 6.99 seconds (75th percentile in relative athletic score (RAS). Four ran better than 6.85 seconds (92nd percentile RAS).
• Among six running backs from 2016-2020, five chose not to participate in the three-cone drill, indicating Mayhew deprioritized the event’s importance. 
• The drill reappears in 2021 though. Among four running backs added in 2021 and 2022, all four participated in the event and three ran 7.03 seconds or better (74th percentile RAS). 
• Brian Robinson Jr. was drafted in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft as the early-down heir apparent. He produced just a 7.33-second three-cone time, ranking in the 25th percentile RAS.
• While the three-cone drill still seems to carry weight with Mayhew, performing well (or even decently) is no longer crucial.
• Among 15 running backs to participate in the broad jump, nine jumped from 9-foot-10 to 10-foot-2. 
• Prolific vertical jumpers were a consistent feature of Mayhew’s early career. Among eight running backs from 2010-2016, five jumped higher than 36 inches (80th percentile RAS) and three hit 40.5 inches or better (98th percentile RAS). 
• Among the four running backs added in 2020, all four jumped from 34.5-39 inches, with two surpassing 36.5. 
• The drill suddenly fell out of favor after 2020. Among the four running backs added from 2021-2022, only three participated in the drill. Two registered 30 inches (15th percentile RAS) and one hit 33.5 (49th percentile RAS).
• The bench press is irrelevant.

Physical Traits Commanders Will Target

• Likely 30-inch arms or longer
• 1.57-1.62 seconds in the 10-yard split
• Ideally sub-7.00 seconds in the three-cone drill
• At least 9-foot-10 in the broad jump
• Minimum 30-inch vertical jump, ideally over 34.5 inches

Potential 2023 Draft RB Targets

• Bijan Robinson, Texas: 10-foot-4 broad jump. His 31.125-inch arms, 1.52-second 10-yard split and 37-inch vertical jump are helpful. (scouting report)
• Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama: His 30.5-inch arms and 1.52-second 10-yard split are helpful. His 33.5-inch vertical jump is not disqualifying. (scouting report)
• Zach Evans, Mississippi: 31.625-inch arms, 1.58-second 10-yard split, 7.08-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-1 broad jump and a 33.5-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)
• Devon Achane, Texas A&M: 1.51-second 10-yard split, 7.05-second three-cone drill and a 33-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)
• Tank Bigsby, Auburn: 32-inch arms, 1.54-second 10-yard split, 9-foot-11 broad jump and a 32.5-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)
• Roschon Johnson, Texas: 32-inch arms, 1.52-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-2 broad jump and a 31.5-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)
• Evan Hull, Northwestern: 30.625-inch arms, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 6.90-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-3 broad jump and a 37-inch vertical jump.

• Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 31.25-inch arms, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 6.97-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 35.5-inch vertical jump.

Measurements for Mayhew's RBs

Athletic Testing for Mayhew's RBs

• At Nebraska’s pro day, Ameer Abdullah improved his 40-yard dash time to 4.55 seconds and also improved his 10-yard split to 1.48 seconds. If the latter is accurate, it would be the fastest time in all four of the NFC East’s samples. 
• At the South Dakota State pro day, Zach Zenner improved his three-cone time to 6.88 seconds.

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.