College: Arizona State
Height: 6’
Weight: 208
Positives:
Passing Game: Grice is one of the best backs in this draft catching the ball out of the backfield. He has shown natural, soft hands and the ability to catch a ball and get upfield with it quickly. He can run multiple routes out of the backfield, but has shown that he has the ability to be split out wide and make plays as well. Not only is Grice a good target in the passing game, he has shown that he is a willing and adequate blocker in the passing game. He doesn’t care to stand in there and block someone to give his quarterback more time to throw the ball. Grice will be really effective on third downs for a team because he has the ability to run, catch and block.
Patience and Vision: Grice has shown the ability to identify holes and hit them quickly when running inside. He also has shown that he can identify a cut back lane and hit it if the initial hole isn’t there. When running outside Grice is patient and lets his blocks get set up in front of him to turn it upfield. This allows him to pick up extra yards because there are blocks in front of him. Grice also shows this ability on screen passes, allowing his blockers to get upfield and get a hat on a defender.
Return Ability: Grice isn’t an explosive returner, but he does give you a good, safe option who will get upfield and get the most out of a return. He doesn’t have great top end speed, but he has good vision and is elusiveness enough to be an impact return man to whoever takes him.
Negatives:
Pad Level: Grice has more of an upright running style and it can cause him to get stood up by defenders when running lower to the ground would allow him to pick up those extra yards. He has a tall, slender frame which causes him to run in a more upright stance. This could also lead to more injuries to him as a pro.
Explosiveness and Top Speed: While Grice has good speed and makes good cuts, he isn’t an extremely explosive running back. He doesn’t make dynamic and explosive cuts. He also doesn’t have elite top end speed. Grice can be caught from behind when he gets into the open field.
NFL Comparison
Matt Forte: Grice has a lot of similarities to Forte in his game. Forte also runs with an upright frame at times, though Forte is bigger than Grice. Both are extremely effective in the passing game and can be split out wide or run routes out of the backfield. Neither have elite speed, but are fast enough to make plays and both are patient and allow blocks to set up in front of them well.
Draft Outlook
With the way the running back market has been, I expect talented running backs to fall in the draft. Grice has the talent to be a third round pick, but will probably fall to the fourth or the fifth round because of the low running back market. Grices versatility could make him go higher than that to a team who needs a running back who is good in the passing game however.
Best Fit
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have one of the best running backs of all time in Adrian Peterson, but after him they don’t have anyone. The Vikings just lost Toby Gerhart in free agency and they need someone who can come in and spell Peterson and give them some pass catching ability out of the backfield, which is something Peterson has never been great at. Grice would also give whoever is the quarterback there next year a good safety valve.