Which Team Could Pick Devon Achane in the 2023 NFL Draft?

It’s that time of year again. Today is basically Christmas Eve for NFL fans as we gear up for the kickoff of the 2023 NFL Draft tomorrow night. 

At 8 PM eastern time, the Carolina Panthers will officially be on the clock and will very likely select their franchise quarterback. Beyond that, nobody knows how the draft will shake out but we are destined to see some crazy trades and jaw-dropping selections.

While he likely won’t be selected on Day 1 tomorrow night, Texas A&M speedster Devon Achane should hear his name called over the course of the three-day event. Where could the shifty running back land?

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Devon Achane Career Review

Achane joined Texas A&M in 2020 and flashed his potential in a reserve role behind Isaiah Spiller. In 2021, the split between Achane and Spiller was a lot more even as they were used in a thunder-and-lightning fashion to create a pulverizing backfield.

Achane carried the ball 130 times for 910 yards and nine touchdowns and added 24 receptions for 261 yards and a score through the air in 2021.

In 2022 Texas A&M had a very disappointing season, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2008. Despite the team struggles, Achane strung together a career season as he handled a majority of the rushing workload for the first time. He carried the ball 196 times for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 36 catches for 196 yards and three scores through the air in just 10 games.

Achane declared for the NFL Draft early and is expected to be drafted in Round 3, although recent mocks have had him slotted higher.

Which NFL Team Draft Devon Achane?

Achane has always been known for his speed and he put a number on that at the combine with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash, good for the fastest of the running backs.

The knock on Achane is his size, measuring at 5-8, 188 pounds. Smaller running backs in stature have struggled with the wear and tear of the NFL game, and teams may pass up the opportunity to draft Achane due to his size.

That being said, smaller running backs have found NFL success in the past. Darren Sproles is the go-to comparison for any small running back, but Achane could succeed in a return man/gadget running back role due to his shiftiness and speed.

Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are the consensus top two running backs, with many analysts having UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet as the RB3 of the 2023 class. Beyond that, Achane has been mentioned along with Tyjae Spears, Zach Evans, Roschon Johnson, and Israel Abanikanda in the next tier of backs who could be selected between Round 2 and Round 4.

Speed often kills in the NFL Draft, and it is likely that a team falls in love with Achane’s speed and college production and takes a swing at him with an earlier pick. Wherever he lands, it is likely that he will be used as a pass-catching back in a committee. Some teams to keep an eye out for are the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and New York Giants, who could all use some running back depth and would offer a role for Achane immediately.

While the Dolphins have been linked to Jahmyr Gibbs, they have also reportedly spent considerable time with Achane. With no first-round pick, it is likely that Gibbs is selected before they have the opportunity to draft which could lead them to selecting Achane to fulfill the hole in their backfield. 

If Achane lands in Miami, it would be hard not to get excited about his fantasy value due to the lack of competition in the backfield. While Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. would still get touches, Achane would have a great opportunity to dominate passing downs and could earn some rushing usage in a high-powered offense.

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