It’s hard to project where and when Devontae Booker will be taken, but the Utah running back should find himself a home with one of the following teams according to recent reports: New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins.
All three are in need of a running back. Not necessarily someone who is going to get 200 carries right off the bat next season, but someone who can get a substantial workload and won’t make those that choose him regret.
Booker had a great Junior year at Utah who didn’t expect much of him, and then finished in the second-team All-Pac-12 for 2015, despite missing a few games due to a torn meniscus. He ran for 2773 yards in 23 games for the Utes, but is also a very capable receiver with 622 yards over the last two seasons, overall scoring 23 touchdowns.
Booker blocks well when it comes to pass protection and gains most of his yards by being patient and finding openings. He’s difficult to tackle and he has great receiving hands, while working to cut down on his fumbles, showing he’s progressing last season. His average speed and maybe being slightly undersized could hurt his draft stock, with teams usually liking three-down backs to be a little bit bigger (5’11, 219 lbs). He looks like the kind of guy who’d lose even more speed if he’d bulk up.
However, considering everything Booker has to offer and his experience in a pro style offense should make him very desirable for teams looking to add a running back they see as becoming a three-down kind of guy in a year or two. He’s not a home run, 25-30 yards rush kind of player, but he should be consistent and dependable to gain a few yards each time he gets the ball, and do a very good job when it comes to helping out in the passing game as a receiver or blocker.