Summary

Tyjae Spears was selected in the 3rd Round (#81 Overall) in the 2023 Draft out of Tulane University. Spears is a versatile, explosively athletic running back who showed in college the ability to be both a significant runner and receiver out of the backfield. With a strong burst, agility in space, and high‑end receiving chops, he brings the potential to be more than a typical one‑dimensional back. In the NFL, he has begun to carve out a role—especially in passing situations—and offers upside as part of a backfield rotation. The key to his progression will be sustaining his production with a heavier workload, increasing his contact resilience, and navigating injuries. If he continues to develop, his ceiling is that of a three‑down feature back; if not, he still projects as a strong complementary piece.

Strengths

• Explosive burst & open‑field agility: Spears’s college tape and scouting reports emphasize his sudden acceleration and ability to exploit space. Bleacher Report

• Dual‑threat ability (rush + receive): At Tulane and early in his NFL career he showed he can catch passes out of the backfield and contribute as a receiver. Tennessee Titans

• Vision & cut‑back ability in tight areas: He reads blocks well, shows good patience behind the line, then bursts through seams or makes defenders miss in space. PFSN

• Production in college & promise in NFL glimpses: At Tulane, Spears averaged ~6.5–6.8 yards per carry and had strong touchdown totals. In the NFL as a rookie, he recorded meaningful receiving production and third‑down usage. NFL Draft Buzz

• Third‑down / passing‑down value: His receiving chops plus agility make him a valuable asset in passing situations, which raises his role beyond just pure carries.

Weaknesses

• Frame / contact profile: At ~195 lbs, Spears has a somewhat lean build for an every‑down feature back; some evaluations suggest he may struggle more on inside‑zone between the tackles or when carrying heavy loads of contact. Bleacher Report

• Durability / past injury history: His college career included a significant knee injury (ACL tear) which raised questions about long‑term durability. Music City Miracles

• Workload experience as lead back: While he has shown promise, Spears has not yet fully carried a heavy workload as the clear primary back in the NFL; his usage has been limited by backfield competition and scheme. Music City Miracles

• Short‑yardage / goal‑line profile & power running: While Spears can make plays in space, his downhill grind style and pure power may not be as elite as some bigger backs, potentially limiting his touchdown upside in certain systems. PFSN

• System / offensive line dependency: Like many backs, his success is tied to scheme fit, offensive line performance, and how touches are allocated. If he is not given space or the scheme doesn’t play to his strengths, his production could plateau.

Fit & Outlook

Spears is ideal in an offense that uses movement, motion, and passes heavily out of the backfield, giving him opportunity to use his receiving ability and agility. An offense that mixes carries with receiving opportunities, utilizes zone‑concept runs and gets him in space will likely maximize his strengths. In the near term, he is around a strong RB2/rotation piece with upside to grow. Over time, if he gains carries, improves his contact resilience, and stays healthy, he could ascend to RB1 territory in the right scheme. His ceiling is a three‑down feature back who produces 1,000+ yards, is heavily involved in the passing game, and scores consistently. At worst, Spears is a complementary back who excels in passing downs and change‑of‑pace roles, splitting carries, but not bearing the full load.