The Tennessee Titans selected Michigan running back Hassan Haskins in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft at pick No. 131 overall.
The selection of Haskins was one of the more surprising picks of the Titans’ draft.
Granted, I never ruled out a running back, but my expectation was Tennessee wouldn’t address the position before taking care of bigger needs, which is what they did when they took Haskins.
Adding to that, Tennessee was more in the market for a third-down back who specializes in catching passes. While Haskins has shown he’s capable there, he’s more of a between-the-tackles, downhill runner.
Haskins will compete for one of the top backup jobs with guys like Dontrell Hilliard, Jordan Wilkins, Trenton Cannon and reported UDFA signing, Julius Chestnut. We also expect him to contribute on special teams after doing so during his days at Michigan.
Here’s more information on Haskins via pre-draft scouting reports from experts.
Positional rank: 16
STRENGTHS: Big-bodied back with power through his legs, lower-half and torso … picks up his knees and drives through contact, making him difficult to tackle … patient and quick as an inside runner and stays balanced in traffic … accelerates into the hole and consistently falls forward … high-level competitor with the ball in his hands, and runs with purpose … didn’t fumble in college (476 offensive touches) … voted the “Toughest Player of the Year” by his teammates in 2021 … physical mentality as a blocker, and holds up well in pass protection … experienced on special teams coverages (278 career snaps) … his coaches say he is “universally respected” in the locker room because of his work ethic and determination in everything he does … broke a 53-year record at Michigan with 20 rushing touchdowns in 2021.
WEAKNESSES: Doesn’t have the speed to out-leverage defenders on the perimeter … won’t be a take-it-the-distance runner in the NFL (of his 270 carries in 2021, only three resulted in runs of 25 yards or more) … open-field burst is average, and he won’t consistently make would-be tacklers miss in space … unproven as anything more than a screen target in the passing game … only one season of full-time production in college … had a durable career, but found himself banged up after the 2021 season and couldn’t participate in the Senior Bowl or NFL Combine.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Michigan, Haskins took over the lead running back role in former offensive coordinator Josh Gattis’ power-gap scheme. After spending time at linebacker during his redshirt year, he shared the running back duties the next two seasons before emerging as the Wolverine’s workhorse as a junior, finishing as one of only four FBS running backs with 1,300-plus rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in 2021 (also led FBS in carries that resulted in a first down). Haskins’ best trait is his ability to consistently finish forward (only six negative rushing yards in 2021) and break tackles with power, flexibility and body control. He can drop his hips for a bigger back, but he doesn’t have the speed or elusive qualities to out-leverage pro defenses. Overall, Haskins’ NFL role might be
limited because of his lack of dynamic athleticism, but he runs with outstanding contact balance and hard-charging instincts and gets the job done as a blocker. He projects as a complimentary power back with special teams value.GRADE: 5th-6th Round
Michigan RB Hassan Haskins has enjoyed a career resurgence in his fourth season in Ann Arbor. As part of a two-headed rushing attack with Blake Corum, Haskins has provided the thunder in the Wolverines backfield en route to rumbling for nearly 1,300 yards on the ground with 20 scores heading into the CFP. These figures are double what Haskins had been able to post in his first three seasons combined and offer an exciting look into what he can potentially be as a ball-carrier. A stout running back who will tip the scales around 220 pounds on gameday, Haskins has a physical, grinding approach to his carries and wears down opposing defenses, as best evidenced by his monster performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Michigan’s big win to help propel them to the CFP. But what makes Haskins interesting is that he isn’t just a jackhammer runner. He’s got a fair level of juice in the open field to run away from tacklers and break pursuit angles in the process, giving him some dynamic upside.
He’s an accomplished athlete. He was a basketball standout in high school and finished second in the high jump in the state championships in track. On the gridiron alone, Haskins has journeyed to the defensive side of the football and back, committing to convert to defense during his redshirt freshman season before being pulled back to play running back in 2019 based on team need. With a significant role in pass protection on his resume as well, at the very least you know he could handle a number of roles for you early on.
Ideal role: Early-down featured running back
Scheme tendencies: Gap/power running game with a high volume of carries between the tackles.
Overview
Big runner who is much more workmanlike than dynamic with the ball in his hands. In his lone season as a lead back, Haskins’ downhill, physical style was well-paired with the “cloud of dust” rushing philosophy for Michigan. He might be forced to run with less patience and more urgency to stay a step ahead of NFL pursuit. While he played the role he was cast into, there were signs (versus Penn State) that he might have some potential as an inside/outside back. Haskins won’t make a living out of dodging tacklers, and big chain-movers who lack wiggle are not hard to find. He still has a chance to stick in the NFL if he lands in the right situation.
Strengths
Excelled in single season as RB1.
Wears down defenses with physicality.
Patient runner who steers lead blocks into targets.
His stiff-arm is, indeed, stiff.
Good forward lean into contact.
Adequate balance through contact to keep a run alive.
Accustomed to squeezing into small creases along the interior.
Hands look capable on limited swing passes.
Weaknesses
Lacking desired burst through the line.
Needs to play faster and with more decisiveness as a pro.
Segmented running style lacks creativity.
Will get what is blocked as an inside runner.
Lateral jump cuts are telegraphed.
Running style absorbs heavy contact and collisions.
Below-average elusiveness in space after the catch.
Technique lacking to keep blitzer in front of him.
Positional rank: 19
POSITIVES
— Good height and size for the position.
— Runs with good tempo and patience.
— Very good in pass protection. Shows understanding of his responsibilities and is a willing blocker.
— Above-average lateral quickness.
— Competitive and tough player. Runs hard and brings effort on every play.
— Good hands when working out of the backfield.
NEGATIVES
— Average burst and long speed when working through the hole.
— Runs high with a narrow base and can get tripped up easily.
OVERALL
Haskins is a competitive and tough running back with good size and build. He plays with a good understanding of whichever run concept is being utilized as well as his responsibilities as a pass protector. Haskins’ best trait is as a pass protector. He plays with very good eyes and is a willing blocker, meeting his blitzer in the hole and consistently sustaining on his block. As a runner, he plays with good tempo and patience for letting his blocks develop before driving forward.
Haskins tends to run high when going through the hole on run plays and with a narrow base. He can be brought down a bit too easily from side and shoelace tackles because of this. He also has just OK long speed and is more of an efficient than explosive runner, getting what’s blocked for him.
Overall, Haskins will be useful on many NFL teams as a passing-down No. 2 or 3 running back because of his ability to pass protect and his steadiness in the run game and as a pass-catcher. He lacks the burst, quickness and overall juice teams would want from their main back or even in a featured role in a rotation. But he is an efficient runner who has the tempo and vision to get what’s blocked for him, which can take a couple of carries a game. Haskins is also a tough and competitive player and plays with enough awareness that he can be a solid contributor on special teams as a rookie.
Positives: Nice-sized interior ball carrier with outstanding vision and football instincts. Strong, rarely brought down by the initial defender, and breaks tackles. Fights hard for every yard, bullies his way over opponents, and plays physical football. Explosive, possesses a burst through the hole, and beats defenders mentally. Displays outstanding blocking vision, sees the blitz, and squares into defenders.
Negatives: Not a creative ball carrier who improvises or makes something out of nothing. Fights the ball as a receiver out of the backfield.
Analysis: Haskins has speed and quickness limitations, but he’s a strong ball carrier who does the little things well. His ability to pick up the tough yardage, effectively block when called upon, and do the little things well makes him a solid projection as a fourth back on the roster.
Pros:
The Michigan offense has lived and died by its rushing attack by committee in recent years. The 2021 season has been no different, as Hassan Haskins has grown into a dependable power back. Listed as a linebacker during his freshman season, the Wolverines’ star is still growing every week. Haskins is well-built for the position and runs with incredible effort. Though he is still learning, the Missouri native works well in a power-run scheme. A one-cut back with a north-south rushing tendency, Haskins is very linearly explosive. That said, he wins thanks to his power. He regularly lowers his shoulder into engagement. His persistent leg drive enables him to run through contact and fall forward. Similarly, his lower body strength allows him to work through arm tackles. At the second level, Haskins uses a well-timed stiff arm. The Michigan standout rarely loses yards, as his burst and size create momentum in short areas. Haskins has a knack for contorting his body to melt through contact. While Haskins is not yet a refined or instinctive runner, he plays off of his blockers very well and patiently allows the play to develop ahead of him. He has grown into a decisive runner. While Haskins has decent hands out of the backfield, his best contributions in the passing game come as a blocker. He flashes power, technique, and awareness in pass protection. At the next level, the former linebacker offers special teams value; he is a strong linear athlete who works hard for tackles on turnovers.
Cons:
Despite his various promising traits, the Wolverines’ star running back’s projection to the NFL has a somewhat capped ceiling. The career committee back in college will fit best in an early-down role in a gap or power scheme at the next level. On the field, Haskins’s vision is an evident concern; his best plays come working in structure and he fails to consistently create for himself. What’s more, he is not an instinctive player with the ball in his hands. He chooses the first hole he sees, is too risk-averse, and leaves yards on the field. Further, Haskins’s top speed is not sufficient to break long touchdowns; he is regularly caught and brought down in the open field. He is fairly stiff in his change of direction and slows down out of his cuts. As a result, Haskins’s frequent attempts to make opponents miss in space are generally unsuccessful. His limited lateral agility and inability to consistently string cuts together make him slow to the hole at times. Moreover, Haskins does not break many tackles. His power and leg drive see him drag defenders and fall forward; that said, he rarely stays on his feet to take on additional opponents. As a receiver, Haskins’s route running lacks fluidity and salesmanship. His blocking technique in pass protection regressed in 2021 and he is ineffective as a lead blocker.
Summary:
Big, explosive running backs often find roles in the NFL. Hassan Haskins has the size and linear burst to make a roster early in his career and see the field in a gap or power run scheme. What’s more, he has the play strength to operate in short-yardage situations. Still, the Michigan standout lacks the fluidity and top speed to serve as an every-down back. He can be a high-level special teamer. He has spot-starter and consistent contributor potential.
