NFL Draft Profile: Samaje Perine

Position: RB

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 235 lbs.

RB is always a highly sought-after position group in the draft, but this year’s draft is a curious one for tailbacks. This RB class is especially stacked, featuring elite talents like Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey and even his teammate Joe Mixon. If he were entering the 2016 draft, Perine would likely be a lock for day three, but the over-saturation of high-end RBs could push Perine down to round four.

In three years at Oklahoma, Perine exhibited excellent strength and endurance and insane running power.By the end of his career, he made his largest impact in short-yardage situations late in the game, but he was a very serviceable all-purpose back for most of his career..

Quintessential Downhill Runner

Perine lacks versatility, but if you are looking for a third-down back with great pass-blocking and incredible balance, then Perine is just the guy. He lacks the breakaway speed necessary to become a superstar, but when Perine gets a head of steam, there’s not much that can stop him. Granted, NFL defenders are bigger and stronger than anything Perine has seen before, but his tremendous work ethic makes it hard to believe he will not find a way to succeed. If he ends up in a city without a strong offensive line, Perine could face a very limited role. Though he excels in short yardage situations, he does not have the quickness or footwork to turn small gains into big ones. That being said, once he is past the line of scrimmage, he is as good a back as any.

The Bowling Ball

Throughout his career at Oklahoma, Perine was often referred to as a bowling ball. He is low to the ground and doesn’t accelerate well, but once he gets going, his momentum and strength can carry him through just about any obstacle. Perhaps a monster truck would be a more apt comparison? His power makes him a perfect runner in short yardage scenarios. He is not fancy, he just powers through the hole and gets what he needs. He’s probably not going to bust a 70-yard touchdown from a 3rd-and-3, but he can pick up the first down. He can mostly fill the role of a fullback on a team that lacks one. Finally, his excellent pass-blocking makes him an ideal third-down back.

Combine

*This section will be updated after the combine

Pro Comp

A good pro comp for Perine would be Maurice Jones-Drew. He is a powerful runner with a big frame and a ton of strength, much like Perine. Perine may not find the same levels of success as Jones-Drew, but their running styles are very similar.

Ceiling

Perine’s ceiling is pretty much Jones-Drew. If he can develop more quickness and better versatility he can become a great RB1. If not, he should be able to excel as an RB2, mainly playing in short-yardage situations.

Floor

His floor is more of an RB3 role. If he ends up with a team that can’t get a real push from the OL, he will struggle. His lack of running tools limits his ability to adapt to more adverse environments.

Verdict and Projection

Perine is a polished, reliable RB with small upside. His frame and power make him a great option for RB2 but severely limits his potential. Due to the general strength of RBs in this year’s draft, Perine will likely end up in rounds 3-4, but he could move up to round two or slip to round five depending on his combine numbers, mainly his 40 time.