Schlereth: McCaffrey could play at ‘very high level’ for next decade

The average career length for an NFL players isn’t more than just a handful of years, and it’s even shorter for running backs.

Those who carry the ball a significant portion of the game and fling themselves at full speed into often times much larger defenders survive the rigors of professional football, not surprisingly, least among all positions — just 2.57 years per the NFL Players Association as of April 2015.

So, it’s Stanford stud running back Christian McCaffrey’s style of play that could be his most valuable asset.

“Longevity. One thing we’ve learned about running back in this league, most of them don’t last a real long time. But I would say the style of running back that McCaffrey is, that’s a guy that I think, longevity-wise, could play at a very high level for the next decade,” said Mark Schlereth, former Denver Broncos star and co-host of “Schlereth and Evans.”

Normally, bell-cow running backs could be asked to take the ball and hurl themselves between the tackles a couple dozen times a game, Schlereth said.

But with McCaffrey’s skill set as a slot receiver and returner, you can justify taking him high in the draft because he’ll touch the ball roughly 20 times a game through a variety of roles.

“He’s going to get his 7-8 carries up the middle every game, but he’s going to get the ball, he’s going to touch the ball, another 8 to 12 times outside the box,” Schlereth said. “And that’s where his value comes in.”

Schlereth said McCaffrey, at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, would take the same physical toll of guys like 11-year veteran Darren Sproles, who plays at a slight 5-foot-6 and 181 pounds.

But unlike Sproles, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, McCaffrey enters a league more willing to utilize running backs in roles more than just rushing the ball.

“I think there’s difference in the way teams approach that position that’s changed, even dramatically over just the last two seasons,” Schlereth said.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.