4th Round: Tarik Cohen (RB, North Carolina A&T)
4th Round: Tarik Cohen (RB, North Carolina A&T)Best case: Darren Sproles
This is actually the most popular comparison among the analysts. For obvious reasons. Cohen shares an eerily similar size and skill set to the longtime playmaker in Sproles. Never quite a Pro Bowler but always a big play threat every time he touched the ball, both as a running back and as a return man.
Worst case: LaMichael James
It’s hard to say whether the failure of James a player was due more to him being on a loaded depth chart or simple lack of faith from the coaches. Either way he was a shorter, quicker and faster back who provided that versatility. Yet he never could get on the field for more than a couple plays every week. He was out of the league after four seasons.
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Closest case: Branden Oliver
It looked like the Chargers found their next Sproles when Oliver broke out in 2014. He piled up 853 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. Unfortunately two separate injuries derailed the next two years. Now he returns to a different scheme and it will be tough to see whether the Chargers understand how to use him. He’s not a traditional between-the-tackles back. Like Sproles, he’s at his best in space. Maybe not quite at Sproles’ level, but still pretty good.
