INDIANAPOLIS -- It used to be a regular occurrence to find running backs taken in the first round of the NFL draft, but the last several years have prompted a flurry of remarks over the position's notable absence of being in the spotlight on the first night of the draft.
The 2015 version of the draft is likely to be a different story, however, with both Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon expected to go in the first round. Add in the fact that there's the possibility another one could sneak in before pick No. 32 is turned in and at least one of this year's tailbacks is confident that the position's popularity will return to form after spending a few years in the outhouse.
"Hopefully we can change that," Gordon said. "I think it's a great class of running backs, we have a lot of talent in this class. I've talked to a lot of guys and we're a close group. I just think we have the talent to go (in the) first this year."
NFL Media analysts have Gordon going as high as No. 26 overall to the Baltimore Ravensin recent mock drafts, and one even sees Gurley being a top-20 pick. As Marshawn Lynch proved with the Seattle Seahawks, a strong run game can be a major part of a Super Bowl contender, and you can count Gordon as one of the backs who will have none of the talk that his position isn't as important to NFL teams as it used to be.
"It's a passing league, but it's hard to say that we're at a devalued position," Gordon added. "I don't know what thoughts were going through (teams') heads. Maybe they felt the running backs the past couple of years didn't have first-round talent, but Le'Veon Bell and Gio (Bernard) were pretty good. We just have to change that this year and show people that we're capable of going in the first round."
Strong 40-yard-dash times at the NFL Scouting Combine might be all that's left for teams to check off the boxes that Gordon is alluding to and make them feel confident in investing a first-round pick on a running back.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
