Leading up to the 2003 NFL Draft the most talented running back in the draft was Willis McGahee from the University of Miami. After Willis sustained a horrific knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl. The famous phone call got McGahee drafted in the first round. Most teams were not sure about RB Larry Johnson leading up to the draft and many teams wondered if his 2000-yard season at Penn State was just a flash in the pan. Chris Brown from Colorado ran behind a massive O-line in College, but his 4.55 speed did not allow him to be a game breaking RB. Onterrio Smith could not avoid legal problems and Lee Suggs could not stay healthy. Third Round pick Justin Fargas has emerged as one of the best at his position from the 2003 NFL Draft.
In Larry Johnson’s first 2 years in the NFL he had his ups and downs with former Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil. Johnson also was playing behind All Pro RB Priest Holmes. In 2003 Johnson only had 20 carries. In the 2004 NFL season Johnson’s carries increased from 20 to 120 carries. He finished the 2004 season with 581 yards rushing and 9 TD’s. In 2005 Johnson had his breakout season finishing with 20 touchdowns, 1,750 rushing yards and he averaged 5.2 YPC. In 2006 Johnson’s production increased and he finished the 2006 NFL season with 1,789 rushing yards. Johnson quickly became not only one of the best RB’s in the 2003 NFL Draft, but clearly he is one of the best backs that came out of the 2003 NFL Draft.
The Buffalo Bills took a chance on RB Willis McGahee who entered the 2003 NFL Draft with a knee injury. Buffalo did not play McGahee at all in 2003 to make sure that Willis would be one hundred percent healthy for the 2004 NFL season. The Bills patience paid off. In 2004 McGahee ran for 1,128 yards, averaged 4.0 YPC and scored 13 touchdowns. Buffalo traded McGahee to the Baltimore Ravens in 2007 and through eleven games this season Willis has 910 rushing yards and is on pace to finish with the most single season rushing yards in his career. McGahee is also a threat to catch the ball out the backfield he has 101 total career receptions.
Running backs Chris Brown and Justin Fargas were selected in the 3rd round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Brown has rushed for 2,637 total yards since 2003. His best season was in 2004 when he rushed for 1,067 yards and 6 TD’s. This season Justin Fargas has rushed for 717 yards and is on pace for his first 1,000 yard rushing season. Fargas has proven that he is a dependable change of pace RB in the NFL and he might be proving that in the right system he could be a starter in the NFL. For his career Justin has averaged 4.3 YPC. One thing that the 2003 NFL Draft has proven is that quality running backs can be found late in the 1st round and in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft.
