Marks Could Be the Next Irving: NFL Draft 2025 Late-Round Gems
Bucky Irving proved last year that the fourth round can hide future stars. His 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns made him the most productive rookie runner in the NFL. Now the search continues - which of this year's late picks will repeat similar success?
The pattern is clear. Irving followed the path of Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City's seventh-round gem from 2022. Both had one thing in common - they weren't college superstars with astronomical numbers, but they proved efficiency and ability to maximize opportunities.
Among this year's candidates, Marks from USC stands out most, selected by Houston in the fourth round. His transformation is remarkable - four years at Mississippi State never exceeded 600 yards per season, but a single season at USC brought 1,133 yards with impressive 6.8 yards per carry.
Marks has an ideal situation for immediate impact. Joe Mixon ahead of him has injury history and Houston under new coordinator Nick Caley is looking for fresh blood in the running game. When Mixon missed three games last year, Texans backups gained 598 yards on 121 carries - space for a rookie is evident.
The second intriguing candidate is Blue from Texas, drafted by Dallas in the fifth round. His dual-threat abilities (5.9 yards per carry) could revive the Cowboys ground game. Dallas depth chart is weak with veterans like Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, opening doors for an ambitious rookie.
The success methodology is key. Both Irving and Pacheco had only one established player ahead of them on the depth chart - all quickly surpassed him. Marks and Blue face similar situations with minimal competition and teams seeking fresh injection into their running game.
Historical precedent is encouraging. Five of the ten most productive rookie runners since 2022 came from the third day of the draft. Talent often lurks where teams least expect it.
Training camp will reveal more, but early indicators suggest the next Irving could wear a Texans or Cowboys jersey.
Thank you Stats Perform for statistics

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