The Positional-Value Debate, Revisited: Are Any 2027 RBs or LBs Worth a Top-10 Pick?

Welcome back to The McShay Report. We’ve spent the past few days introducing the top of the 2027 NFL draft class, but this week I wanted to dig into two positions that always create some of the most interesting debates in draft rooms: running back and off-ball linebacker.

Both have been devalued over the past couple of decades, and for good reason. The economics matter and the scarcity of the position matters. When you’re spending a premium pick, you have to think about how much value that player can realistically provide compared with prospects at quarterback, offensive tackle, pass rusher, or cornerback.

But that doesn’t mean you blindly cross running backs and linebackers off the board. The player matters, too. 

So today we’re getting into exactly where I draw that line. I’ll explain my philosophy on positional value, why Florida’s Jadan Baugh currently has the edge over Kewan Lacy as my RB1, where Ahmad Hardy would fit based strictly on his 2025 tape, and how Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown stacks up against the recent first-rounders at his position.

And because it’s never too early to start looking beyond the top 50, I’ve also got three potential risers I’ll be watching closely once the college football season gets rolling.

Before we get into it, here are the players from each group that made my initial top 50 big board:

RB

Jadan Baugh, Florida
Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss

LB

Sammy Brown, Clemson