Mike Renner· Aug 18, 2026
Renner ranks the top 10 running backs in the 2027 NFL Draft class, calling it a special group in which the top three are future first-rounders, and assigns each an early draft grade ranging from Round 1 to early Day 3.
“The top three backs in this class all look like future first-rounders, so there's no shame in coming in third on this list.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 11 mock draft picks and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
12 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksHollywood SmothersAug 18, 2026
Hollywood Smothers to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Hollywood Smothers ... Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksRushawn BakerAug 18, 2026
Rushawn Baker to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Wayshawn Parker ... Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksNate CarterAug 18, 2026
Nate Carter to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)
“Nate Frazier ... Early Grade: Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksIsaac BrownAug 18, 2026
Isaac Brown to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)
“Isaac Brown ... Early grade: Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKewan LacyAug 18, 2026
Kewan Lacy to be picked “Round 1”
“Kewan Lacy ... Early grade: Round 1 ... The top three backs in this class all look like future first-rounders”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksRushawn BakerAug 18, 2026
Rushawn Baker to be picked “top-100 pick” (picks 1–100)
“After barely cracking the 1,000-yard mark last year, he should be a top-100 pick with another big season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksAneyas WilliamsAug 18, 2026
Aneyas Williams to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Aneyas Williams ... Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJadan BaughAug 18, 2026
Jadan Baugh to be picked “Round 1”
“Jadan Baugh ... Early grade: Round 1 ... Baugh is yet another back who has little more to prove to become a first-rounder next spring.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksMark Fletcher Jr.Miami DolphinsAug 18, 2026
Mark Fletcher Jr. to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Mark Fletcher Jr. ... Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsAug 18, 2026
“Positional rankings ... RB ... Ahmad Hardy ... Jadan Baugh ... Kewan Lacy ... Isaac Brown ... Nate Frazier ... Mark Fletcher Jr. ... Wayshawn Parker ... Aneyas Williams ... Hollywood Smothers ... Waymond Jordan”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksAhmad HardyAug 18, 2026
Ahmad Hardy to be picked “Round 1”
“Ahmad Hardy ... Early grade: Round 1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksLaMont JordanAug 18, 2026
LaMont Jordan to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Waymond Jordan ... Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
- Alain PoupartScore Predictions · Miami DolphinsMiss · 24Poupart predicts the Dolphins upset the Raiders in Week 1 in Las Vegas, 27-24, and also expects Miami to win few games overall in 2026.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Millman backed several week one sides outright: Miami to beat the Raiders straight up, the Jets over the Titans, an underdog money line parlay of Houston and the Giants, and a favorites money line parlay of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit. He also stands by his preseason take that Drake Maye is a top-five NFL quarterback.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Miami DolphinsMiss · 24Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rob RangMock Draft Picks · Jeremiah SmithMiss · 0Rang ranks the four headline prospects from the Texas-Ohio State game in the order he'd draft them (Jeremiah Smith, Arch Manning, Cam Coleman, Julian Sayin) and assigns each a draft grade: Smith and Manning as top-5 picks, Coleman top 10, and Sayin a third-rounder.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · Brandon DoughtyMiss · 3Rosenthal gave first reactions to Vegas win totals: overs on the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings, Buccaneers, 49ers and Cardinals, unders on the Falcons and Commanders, plus he expects Shedeur Sanders to start about 10-11 games and thinks the Cowboys' 9.5 is beatable.
- Peter BukowskiMock Draft Picks · Gennings DunkerHit · 100Bukowski breaks down Iowa offensive lineman Jennings Dunker as a Packers fit and puts a late second-/early third-round grade on him, noting that range overlaps where Green Bay picks.
- David HarrisonMock Draft Picks · Eli HeidenreichHit · 100Harrison delivers his only first-round mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, projecting all 32 first-round picks (including several trades) plus the rest of Washington's projected class, while noting it is an exercise in what could happen rather than a firm forecast.
- Brian PeacockMock Draft Picks · Bud ClarkHit · 96In his final 2026 mock draft for the 49ers, Peacock projects San Francisco taking WR Kevin Concepcion (KC) at pick 27, then after trading out of round two, edge rusher Kieron Crawford and safety Bud Clark in round three, OL Trey Zune and RB Jonah Coleman in round four, CB Charles Demings in round five and guard Caden Barnett in round six. He also thinks Omar Cooper comes off the board before Concepcion.
- David HarrisonMock Draft Picks · Riley NowakowskiMiss · 13In his final mock draft Monday, Harrison has the Commanders trading back twice and selecting eight players: safety Dylan Thieneman at 16, WR Denzel Boston at 33, RB Mike Washington Jr. at 83, C Jagger Burton at 132, CB Julian Neal at 147, QB Cade Klubnik at 187, DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. at 209 and TE Riley Nowakowski in the seventh round.