The New York Giants have many positions to address in free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft, some of which are far more important than others.
Somewhere in the mid-tier of needs is a backup running back or two; someone to spell Saquon Barkley so that he’s not forced to take on a massive workload.
That’s not to say Barkley can’t handle a massive workload because he certainly can, but it’s not beneficial to his long-term viability. So with that in mind, here’s a look at five running backs the Giants could poke around in free agency.
Kenyan Drake
At some point or another, someone is going to realize the worth of Kenyan Drake and let him take over as their starter. That time could arrive here in 2020, but in the event it doesn’t and Drake again finds himself backing someone up, why not Saquon?
Drake is a talented all-around back who averaged a career-high 5.2 yards per carry (200+ carries) for the Arizona Cardinals last year. And while his production out of the backfield slipped, he is a more than capable pass-catcher.
The one drawback? Drake is reportedly seeking upwards of $8 million per season, which would price the Giants out of his market. However, if he can’t land that, Drake is worth keeping an eye on.
Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler would be an intriguing option for the Giants if they could get their hands on him, but he is scheduled to become a restricted free agent, which complicates matters. It’s unclear at what level the Chargers intend to tender him, but it could end up being minimal. If it is, general manager Dave Gettleman should make a call. If it’s not, turn to the next page.
Not only does Ekeler average nearly 5.0 yards per carry on his career, he averages over 10 yards per reception and fell just shy of the 1,000-yard mark a season ago.
Another talented do-it-all back, a combination of Saquon and Ekeler would be thrilling.
Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson has seen his production dwindle over the last four seasons, and as he approaches the age of 30, that may scare some people off. That’s understandable for a team seeking a starter, but not necessarily for a team seeking a spell back.
Thompson never really took off in Washington, but served as a quality backup, averaging just under 5.0 yards per carry on his career, while making a genuine difference in the passing game.
As far as sheer backups go, Thompson is a guy that might make sense for the Giants. His salary demands are likely to be minimal, his expectations would be minimal and he’s already filled a backup role nicely.
Jordan Howard
Once upon a time, Jordan Howard was a back-to-back 1,000-yard guy for the Chicago Bears. Entering 20202? He’s just another face in the crowd after serving as a backup in Philadelphia, producing a career-low 525 yards on the ground.
That may be an oversimplification, but running backs in the NFL fade quickly and very rarely do they get back on track. Rather, they often revert to serving as a backup and then quietly fade away.
Whether or not that’s what the future holds for Howard remains to be seen, but if he doesn’t draw starting interest on the open market, he should become an immediate option for the Giants.
Although Howard isn’t the explosive all-around back the team may covet, he’s still a grinder capable of gaining the tough yards and plunging the ball into the endzone from a yard or two out.
Spencer Ware
Spencer Ware has had sort of an odd career, predominantly doing his work in the background, but shining through in times of need.
Such was the case in 2016 when Ware took over for Jamal Charles and gained just shy of 1,000 yards while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He was slated to remain the Chiefs’ starter the following season, but a PCL tear landed him on injured reserve and he missed the entire year.
Ware was never able to slide back into the starting role, and has found mixed success in the years since. He appeared in just three games a season ago while bouncing around between the Indianapolis Colts and Chiefs, eventually landing on IR with a shoulder injury.
Ware is now healthy and looking for a new job.
