Chiefs Draft Prospect: RB Elijah McGuire

Running back Elijah McGuire from Louisiana-Lafayette has an interview with the Kansas City Chiefs and suddenly his name is blowing up. Yes, there may be a good reason for that. CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler wrote this about McGuire,

“Many of the same scouting terms to describe former Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens in April, will be used in Elijah McGuire’s scouting report. Productive? He has 3,185 career rushing yards to his name entering his senior season, including back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons as a sophomore and junior. Reliable? McGuire had double-digit carries in every game last season. Strong hands? He has 100 receptions over his career for 1,145 yards. The McGuire-Dixon comparisons make a lot of sense… there isn’t a clear No. 1 senior RB prospect in the 2017 draft class, but McGuire is a contender….”

What you need to know about that quote is that it was written in June of 2016. I have to warn you, there are bats in the belfry… when it comes to the evaluations of Elijah McGuire. There are just too many crazy inconsistencies in what the “experts” have to say about McGuire. One says he has no jump cut and another says he does. I say that his video shows he has a very good “slash-cut” which may remind you of Jamaal Charles. Here’s a short highlight reel of McGuire in 2015. A few notes before watching:

• You may want to skip the first minute. Not sure why so many these highlight videos are wasting the first 60 seconds on a lot of back slapping and meaningless close-ups.
• Check out the catch at 2:12, it’s a big league catch, especially for a running back.
• At 2:47, McGuire looks like he was shot out of a cannon.
• McGuirre’s cut at 3:10 is reminiscent of a JC cut downfield to confuse a safety.
• At 3:35 he makes some big league cuts inside the tackles.

Elijah McGuire plays for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette — it used to be the University of Southwestern Louisiana — which is a Division I school and part of the Sun Belt Conference. CBS Sports ranks McGuire as the 193rd best prospect overall and the 18th best RB. That’s quite a difference from competing for the first running back taken in the draft. So, what gives?

This year has turned out to be one of the best years for running backs in a long time. Mike Mayock has said you can get a good RB into the 3rd or 4th rounds of the draft. In McGuire’s case, whoever is ranking the RBs now may have it wrong. UL-Lafayette may not face the hardest competition but it is still a Division I school with teams like Boyce State and Georgia on the schedule.

DraftTek ranks Elijah McGuire as the 214th best overall prospect… so perhaps CBS Sports has it right… now. McGuire’s stats show that he had a slight downturn in his production in 2016 and not the kind of upswing expected in a fourth-year RB, especially one who is wanting to make a name for himself. Rotoworld says of McGuire,

“McGuire is just one plant attempting to fight for light in the overstuffed rain forest that is the 2017 running back class. The 5-foot-11, 208-pounder might just have the chops to meet the sun.”

Dane Brugler also writes of McGuire,

“While his athleticism and toughness stand out on film, McGuire’s most impressive trait might be his receiving ability with strong hand-eye coordination to pluck the ball out of the air and quickly create. And he doesn’t just run screens or take advantage of dump-offs, McGuire will run routes and occasionally line up in the slot as a receiver – evidence by his 11.5 yards per catch career average. Does some of his best work with defenders draped all over him downfield, getting his head turned to find, locate and secure the catch.”

The worst comment I’ve heard about McGuire is that he’s too patient at times when running the ball. Which means what? That he’s like Priest Holmes… or Le’Veon Bell? Wow, we should be so cursed. Although Lance Zeirlien writes of McGuire’s weaknesses,

“Runs too close to defensive linemen when open area is available. Lacks desired downhill toughness. Has no jump cut for optimal elusiveness. Lateral cuts driven by outside foot and lacks width. Will run up blocker’s back when there is still yardage to be had. Gives into tackles. Never finished with more than five broken tackles in a single season. Arm tackles throw him off his path. Pass protection needs work.”

At 5-foot-10 inches and 208 pounds (214 lbs. in other publications) Elijah McGuire is built low to the ground and while he looks like he could be a successful NFL back, he may look too much like what the Chiefs already have in Spencer Ware. Consequently, I am not predicting that JARD makes a move to draft him. However, if he happens to fall to the 6th or 7th rounds or worse yet (for him), out of the draft, I can see Elijah McGuire spending time on the Chiefs practice squad before getting a chance to jump to the 53.

Elijah McGuire’s Combine numbers:

Compare those numbers to Leonard Fournette’s who is recognized at the clear-cut #1 RB in this draft and has been compared to Bo Jackson:

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