A 2nd-round pick (56th overall) in the 2002 NFL Draft out of Iowa, Ladell Betts has built an NFL career since. He last played in 2010 with NO, a career spanning 9 NFL seasons. Last season's 32.7 ScoutIndex Rating landed in the 6th percentile among RBs, below average for the position. His ball security stands out most — the 95th percentile at the position. Across 9 NFL seasons, he has totaled 3,326 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
Size
5'11", 224#
College
Iowa
Draft
Rd 2, 56th overall (2002)
Seasons
2002–2010
2004 ScoutIndex Rating · RB
Methodology68th percentile among RBs
16 games · 105 touches
2004 attribute card
click a row to see the formulagroup averages
Athleticism
Speed34▶
Percentile of 40-yard dash time among RBs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.
Burst70▶
Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine RBs.
Agility81▶
Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine RBs (faster = higher).
Size39▶
Height/weight z-score vs. the RB cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).
Rushing
Rush Efficiency74▶
Rushing EPA ÷ carry.
Yards/Carry45▶
Rushing yards ÷ carry.
Conversion28▶
(Rushing first downs + ½ rushing TD) ÷ carry.
Receiving
Receiving50▶
Receiving EPA ÷ target, plus a reception-volume bonus — the same formula behind the Rating's receiving component.
Impact
Ball Security95▶
Fumbles lost ÷ touch (fewer is better).
Volume76▶
Carries + receptions this season.
Efficiency41▶
Total EPA (rushing + receiving) per game.
Career (regular season)
Career profile
Across 9 NFL seasons on file, Ladell Betts has played in 110 regular-season games, playing for 2 teams: WAS (2002–2009), NO (2010).
He has rushed for 3,326 yards and 15 touchdowns. As a receiver he has caught 188 passes for 1,646 yards and 3 touchdowns. His most productive rushing season was 2006 with WAS: 1,154 yards and 4 touchdowns in 16 games.
By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2006: a 65.7, in the 89th percentile among RBs that year.
Career highs (regular season)
- Most rushing yards in a game171 vs PHI, 2006 Week 14
- Most receiving yards in a game57 on 3 catches vs BAL, 2008 Week 14
2004 splits
regular season| Split | G | Rush yds | Rush TD | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 8 | 206 26/g | 1 | 4 0.5/g | 20 3/g | 0 |
| Away | 8 | 165 21/g | 0 | 11 1.4/g | 88 11/g | 0 |
| In division | 6 | 140 23/g | 0 | 7 1.2/g | 45 8/g | 0 |
| Out of division | 10 | 231 23/g | 1 | 8 0.8/g | 63 6/g | 0 |
| In wins | 6 | 256 43/g | 1 | 4 0.7/g | 25 4/g | 0 |
| In losses | 10 | 115 12/g | 0 | 11 1.1/g | 83 8/g | 0 |
| On grass | 12 | 264 22/g | 1 | 11 0.9/g | 70 6/g | 0 |
| On turf | 4 | 107 27/g | 0 | 4 1.0/g | 38 10/g | 0 |
| Indoors | 1 | 19 19/g | 0 | 1 1.0/g | 3 3/g | 0 |
| Outdoors | 15 | 352 23/g | 1 | 14 0.9/g | 105 7/g | 0 |
2004 game log
| Wk | Opp | Line | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | TB | 17 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 6 yds, 0 TD | 49.9 |
| Week 2 | NYG | 11 rush yds, 0 TD | 50.1 |
| Week 3 | DAL | — | 48 |
| Week 4 | CLE | 6 rush yds, 0 TD | 44.2 |
| Week 5 | BAL | -1 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 3 yds, 0 TD | 36.3 |
| Week 6 | CHI | 30 rush yds, 0 TD | 65.3 |
| Week 8 | GB | — | 48.1 |
| Week 9 | DET | 19 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 3 yds, 0 TD | 36.3 |
| Week 10 | CIN | — | 48.1 |
| Week 11 | PHI | 14 rush yds, 0 TD · 6 rec, 39 yds, 0 TD | 47.5 |
| Week 12 | PIT | 34 rush yds, 0 TD · 3 rec, 35 yds, 0 TD | 49.5 |
| Week 13 | NYG | 64 rush yds, 0 TD | 58.7 |
| Week 14 | PHI | 8 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 6 yds, 0 TD | 47 |
| Week 15 | SF | 8 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 11 yds, 0 TD | 47 |
| Week 16 | DAL | 43 rush yds, 0 TD | 46.5 |
| Week 17 | MIN | 118 rush yds, 1 TD · 1 rec, 5 yds, 0 TD | 65.7 |
Ladell Betts — common questions
- What position does Ladell Betts play?
- Ladell Betts is listed as an RB.
- Which teams has Ladell Betts played for?
- In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Ladell Betts has played for WAS (2002–2009), NO (2010).
- Where did Ladell Betts go to college?
- Ladell Betts played college football at Iowa.
- When was Ladell Betts drafted?
- Ladell Betts was selected in round 2, 56th overall, of the 2002 NFL Draft.
- How many touchdowns has Ladell Betts scored?
- Ladell Betts has 18 touchdowns in the regular-season games on file (15 rushing, 3 receiving).
- What is Ladell Betts's ScoutIndex Rating?
- Ladell Betts rated 24.7 for 2010, the 4th percentile among RBs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.
Related players
Top teammates, last season on file
- Drew BreesQB · 2010
- Marques ColstonWR · 2010
- Lance MooreWR · 2010
- Chris IvoryRB · 2010
- Robert MeachemWR · 2010
- Devery HendersonWR · 2010
- Pierre ThomasRB · 2010
- Jeremy ShockeyTE · 2010
Drafted in round 2, 2002
- Jabar GaffneyWR · pick 33
- DeShaun FosterRB · pick 34
- Kalimba EdwardsDE · pick 35
- Josh ReedWR · pick 36
- Andre GurodeC · pick 37
- Raonall SmithLB · pick 38
- Toniu FonotiG · pick 39
- Mike PearsonOT · pick 40
Also from Iowa
- Beau StephensG · 2026–2026
- Gennings DunkerG · 2026–2026
- TJ HallDB · 2026–2026
- Karson ShararLB · 2026–2026
- Max LlewellynDE · 2026–2026
- Logan JonesC · 2026–2026
- Kaleb JohnsonRB · 2025–2026
- Yahya BlackDE · 2025–2026