Rams News

Enis emerges as draft's best back

Posted: Wed April 1, 1998 at 3:15 PM ET

With the draft just over two weeks away, three teams -- St. Louis, Jacksonville and New England -- are desperate for starting running backs. Here's the word on the top prospects:

Penn State's Curtis Enis, 6-1 and 242, has emerged as the no-doubt No. 1 back after wowing scouts in his postseason workouts. He'll go to Chicago or some team in a trade at No. 5, or could last until St. Louis picks at No. 6.

Watch for Jacksonville to try to trade ahead of the Rams. St. Louis coach Dick Vermeil tells me he loves the kid. They got along so well on Enis' visit to St. Louis Monday that Vermeil took him home to watch the NCAA Championship Game at the coach's townhouse.

After Enis, NFL people are clearly divided on the next-best guy. It's either Florida's Fred Taylor ... he had some fumble-itis in college, but he blew away scouts in his personal workout with a 4.35 40-yard dash. Or it might be Georgia's Robert Edwards ... he would be a steal, in the middle of the round one, but he does have a major durability question.

On Draft Day, look for the backs to fall in this order: Enis to the Rams, Taylor to the Jaguars, Edwards to the Patriots.

Which brings us to the most interesting free agent left out there -- former Seattle back Chris Warren. The neediest running-back teams, St. Louis and New England, both tell me they have no interest in the man who has rushed for 4,600 yards in the last four years.

The Rams, in fact, are thinking about former Chiefs platoon runner Greg Hill. When Warren realizes he's not going to be a starting player in anyone's camp, look for him to take a job with Dallas. The Cowboys would bench Emmitt Smith on third downs and insert Warren -- assuming Warren would agree to a low-base, incentive-laden contract.

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