Does it pay to be a running back these days?  The two most recent NFL Drafts, as well as the new structure of NFL rookie contracts, suggests that it does not.  Today we’ll take a look at Tech’s most recent NFL backs, the size of the top backs in the league, initial rookie contracts, and the current backs on VT’s roster.

Here’s a list of the most recent running backs selected in the first and second rounds:

2014: Bishop Sankey, Washington (2nd Round, #54 overall), Jeremy Hill, LSU (2nd round, #55 overall), Carlos Hyde (2nd round, #57 overall).  Overall, there were seven backs taken in the first three rounds of the draft, and that includes backs from Towson and Georgia Southern.

2013: Giovani Bernard, UNC (2nd round, #37 overall), Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State (2nd round, #48 overall), Montee Ball, Wisconsin (2nd round, #58 overall), Eddie Lacy, Alabama (2nd round, #61 overall), Christine Michael, Texas A&M (2nd round, #62 overall).  Furthermore, there was one running back taken in the third round, meaning six backs went in the first three rounds.

...