There's smoke that at least two running backs will come off the board in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday. There's now an equal amount of smoke that TreVeyon Henderson could be the second running back taken.
Boise State superstar and Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty is going to lead the dance at the position. That much is clear. But among a group including North Carolina's Omarion Hampton and Ohio State teammate Quinshon Judkins, Henderson is emerging as the draft's potential RB2 in the final days before it opens.
"I've said all along, TreVeyon Henderson is a player that I'm hearing teams are like, 'Hmm,'" The Ringer analyst and famed draft expert Todd McShay said on The McShay Show Tuesday. "Yeah, I get it, Omarion Hampton is 221 (pounds), Henderson is like 205. Henderson runs just as fast. Judkins is a big (back), all that stuff. I'm hearing now from NFL teams, TreVeyon Henderson could be RB2 in this class. And there's round one (buzz)."
If you're reading this story on this site, you're probably familiar with Henderson's Ohio State accolades. He overcame injuries and personal trauma to deliver on what had always been freakish athletic gifts as a five-star prospect. Despite splitting carries with Judkins, he racked up 1,016 yards at a ludicrous clip of 7.1 yards per carry in 2024 with 10 touchdowns.
A significant contributor since his freshman year – though he's been limited by lower-body injuries at several turns – Henderson finished fifth on the decorated list of the Buckeyes' all-time rushers with 3,761 yards and sixth in career rushing touchdowns with 42. He delivered one of the most iconic plays of Ohio State's 2024 national championship run, a microcosm of his explosive abilities in Columbus.
TREVEYON HENDERSON 75 YARDS TO THE HOUSE, WOW
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025
Ohio State immediately answers after Texas' TD. pic.twitter.com/a0OdS0eORK
Coming off of Ohio State's season, Henderson was viewed as a pick for later in day two. Only two draft experts listed in Eleven Warriors' first mock draft roundup ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine had Henderson going in the second round. The rest had him as a third-round pick.
Flash forward two months and the latest mock draft roundup had two analysts, Pro Football Network's Ian Cummings and Daft on Daft's Cory Kinnan, had Henderson going in the first round, specifically to the Denver Broncos at No. 20. Twenty-one other analysts had him going in the second round while just one, a three-round mock from The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer, put him outside the first two rounds.
"The last day at the Senior Bowl, I'm getting the sense talking to people in the league, this is a guy that enough teams are already trying to figure out, 'Where could he go?' That he could end up in round one," McShay said. "I don't think Pittsburgh at that spot (21), but if Pittsburgh moved back, I think that would be a spot for them."
McShay added that the Washington Commanders, who hold the 29th pick in the first round, could be another landing spot for Henderson, as running back is among a few needs for Washington. Count ESPN draft expert Jeremy Fowler among the experts high on Henderson, who listed the Houston Texans (pick 25) and Kansas City Chiefs (31) as other potential late-first-round landing spots.
"Enough teams have him very high on their RB board, meaning late Round 1 isn't totally out of the question," Fowler wrote of Henderson on Wednesday. "Contenders such as the Texans, Chiefs and Commanders are looking to improve their ground games. The Chiefs conducted a virtual call with Henderson on Tuesday, and coach Andy Reid was part of the call."
One of the major selling points on Henderson for NFL teams is his pass protection. He developed a reputation as a ferocious pass blocker during his final season at Ohio State. When comparing dynamic athlete to dynamic athlete at the position, these are the elements that can set a player apart. Indeed, it's been a focal point of Henderson's during the scouting process.
"An area of my game I'm looking to highlight is my pass protection," Henderson said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I feel like that shows what type of player you are, whether that's selfish, you only care about when the ball is in your hands, or unselfish, how much you care when the ball is not in your hands. I feel like pass protection, it really shows that."
Think TreVeyon Henderson liked this big block? @TreVeyonH4 x @OhioStateFB#B1GFootball on CBS pic.twitter.com/Tp1NSIDkKd
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) August 31, 2024
The analysts have noticed, too.
"Everyone I talk to, it's Henderson in the pass game, what he can do in the pass game," McShay said.
"Best pass blocker in the class and not even close to the biggest back," McShay's co-host and NFL draft analyst Steve Muench replied.
While pass protection might be a separation for Henderson over other backs mentally and in terms of selflessness, his biggest physical calling card is his breakaway speed. Henderson noted as much in his interview at the combine. He backed that claim up with a blazing 4.43-second 40-yard dash, and his athleticism score of 92 calculated by the NFL's Next Gen Stats is first among all running backs in the draft.
Henderson will wait with bated breath to see if his name is called in the first round on Thursday night. The 2025 NFL draft opens at 8 p.m. and will be televised by ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
