The Giants missed out on Andrew Norwell but still lured a free agent from the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday.
Jonathan Stewart, a 10-year NFL veteran who's played his entire career in Carolina, is expected to sign in New York, per ESPN, after visiting the club on Tuesday.
Stewart reunites with Mike Shula, the Giants' new offensive coordinator who ran his Panthers offense from 2013-17. Stewart is a downhill veteran back who has scored 16 total touchdowns the past two seasons.
Stewart, however, turns 31 years old next week. He's averaged below 4.0 yards per carry in four of the past six seasons, including a career-worst 3.4 yards per carry last season (198 carries for 680 yards and six rushing TDs).
And he isn't a big pass catcher, with just 16 total receptions the past two years _ although Stewart did catch 47 balls in 2011 and 25 in 2014.
That makes him as slightly surprising signing considering new Giants coach Pat Shurmur's emphasis at the combine on the value of having versatile, well-rounded backs instead of complementing backs with different strengths.
The terms of the deal were not immediately available, but it's expected to be an affordable, short-term contract. And it's likely Gettleman believes Stewart, as a steadying veteran, can help him replicate the winning culture he so reveres from his 2015 NFC Champion Panthers squad.
Stewart joins Wayne Gallman and Paul Perkins as current members of the Giants backfield. Orleans Darkwa and Shane Vereen are unrestricted free agents. The Giants studied and interviewed a ton of running backs at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and their activity at this position is far from finished.
