ESPN's Bill Barnwellrecently took a look back at the running back class from the 2025 NFL draft, and so far, he's mostly liked what he's seen from theJacksonville Jaguars' Bhayshul Tuten.
Barnwell begins by noting that while Tuten's 4.1 yards per carry won't stand out on its own, he is also above average in generating rushing yards over expectation and first downs over expectation, highlighting his ability to create beyond just what's available to him.
Helping Tuten accomplish that is his impressive speed, which has allowed him to be really good at making defenders miss. Barnwell notes that Tuten has forced defenders to miss on 35.5% of their tackle attempts this season -- the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.
Barnwell adds that Tuten is at his best
as a zone runner, where he can "make a quick decision and burst upfield past defenders."
He continues, "There's a lot to like here, and I'm more optimistic about Tuten through seven weeks than I was heading into 2026. He's doing a better job of harnessing his speed and getting the most out of it, and Coen puts his nominal lead back in situations that play to his strength. I wouldn't expect the Jags to turn over the entire backfield to Tuten, but his role is going to expand as the season goes along -- and that's deserved."
If there is an area of improvement in the early going of Tuten's career, it is with his vision, says Barnwell, who called that element a "work in progress."
That said, having a running game to lean on is an important aspect of the Liam Coen offense and Tuten has helped provide that this season.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: ESPN evaluates early season play of Jaguars RB Bhayshul Tuten
