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 agility stands out most — the 87th 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
2009 ScoutIndex Rating · RB
Methodology58th percentile among RBs
10 games · 73 touches
2009 attribute card
click a row to see the formulagroup averages
Athleticism
Speed27▶
Percentile of 40-yard dash time among RBs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.
Burst74▶
Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine RBs.
Agility87▶
Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine RBs (faster = higher).
Size48▶
Height/weight z-score vs. the RB cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).
Rushing
Rush Efficiency40▶
Rushing EPA ÷ carry.
Yards/Carry24▶
Rushing yards ÷ carry.
Conversion9▶
(Rushing first downs + ½ rushing TD) ÷ carry.
Receiving
Receiving84▶
Receiving EPA ÷ target, plus a reception-volume bonus — the same formula behind the Rating's receiving component.
Impact
Ball Security87▶
Fumbles lost ÷ touch (fewer is better).
Volume61▶
Carries + receptions this season.
Efficiency80▶
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
2009 splits
regular season| Split | G | Rush yds | Rush TD | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 5 | 127 25/g | 1 | 10 2.0/g | 84 17/g | 0 |
| Away | 5 | 83 17/g | 1 | 7 1.4/g | 95 19/g | 0 |
| In division | 3 | 4 1/g | 0 | 4 1.3/g | 44 15/g | 0 |
| Out of division | 7 | 206 29/g | 2 | 13 1.9/g | 135 19/g | 0 |
| In wins | 3 | 126 42/g | 1 | 5 1.7/g | 52 17/g | 0 |
| In losses | 7 | 84 12/g | 1 | 12 1.7/g | 127 18/g | 0 |
| On grass | 6 | 134 22/g | 1 | 11 1.8/g | 90 15/g | 0 |
| On turf | 4 | 76 19/g | 1 | 6 1.5/g | 89 22/g | 0 |
| Indoors | 3 | 77 26/g | 1 | 5 1.7/g | 66 22/g | 0 |
| Outdoors | 7 | 133 19/g | 1 | 12 1.7/g | 113 16/g | 0 |
2009 game log
| Wk | Opp | Line | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | NYG | -1 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 23 yds, 0 TD | 43.2 |
| Week 2 | LAR | 13 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 25 yds, 0 TD | 50.1 |
| Week 3 | DET | 2 rush yds, 0 TD · 4 rec, 43 yds, 0 TD | 51.2 |
| Week 4 | TB | -1 rush yds, 0 TD · 3 rec, 21 yds, 0 TD | 52.8 |
| Week 5 | CAR | 7 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 6 yds, 0 TD | 56.2 |
| Week 6 | KC | 1 rush yds, 0 TD · 2 rec, 11 yds, 0 TD | 41.8 |
| Week 7 | PHI | 3 rec, 21 yds, 0 TD | 50.2 |
| Week 9 | ATL | 70 rush yds, 1 TD · 1 rec, 23 yds, 0 TD | 70.7 |
| Week 10 | DEN | 114 rush yds, 1 TD · 1 rec, 6 yds, 0 TD | 60.8 |
| Week 11 | DAL | 5 rush yds, 0 TD | 32.1 |
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