Packers: Kylin Hill is PFF’s highest-graded rookie RB in preseason

When the Green Bay Packers selected running back Kylin Hill in the seventh round, many analysts believed they had landed one of the steals of the 2021 NFL Draft.

So far, Hill is showing why the pick received so much praise.

Hill has been impressive this summer with two strong performances in the preseason.

After two weeks of the preseason, Hill is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded rookie running back. He has a grade of 82.8.

Hill’s rushing total in the opening preseason game was disappointing as he finished with minus-two yards from five carries, but the blocking up front wasn’t good enough. So much so that head coach Matt LaFleur made changes at guard when the first-team offense practiced.

In the second game, he rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown from his seven attempts, averaging a healthy 4.1 yards per carry.

Hill has also shown his pass-catching ability, something that is crucial for running backs in LaFleur’s system. He’s caught three of his four targets in the preseason for 33 yards and a touchdown. His ability to play on all three downs will help him get on the field more often in the regular season.

There doesn’t seem to be much doubt at this stage that Hill will be the Packers’ number three running back this season. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are locked in as the top two, but LaFleur’s offense requires good depth at the running back position.

With only a couple of weeks to go until the start of the regular season, it’s going to take something special from the other running backs on the roster bubble to overtake Hill as the RB3.

Hill has been excellent so far and could prove to be one of the steals of the 2021 NFL Draft when we look back at this class a couple of years from now.