NY Giants sign RB Devontae Booker: The good, the bad, the grade

The NY Giants made the someone quizzical decision Monday, signing veteran running back Devontae Booker on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, ahead of NFL free agency officially opening.

Booker will likely pair with Saquon Barkley as depth in the backfield and as an insurance policy for how Barkley returns from a torn ACL that ended his season in Week 2 of the 2020 campaign. However, for an organization with limited resources, it is fair to wonder if a backup running back is the best use of $6 million over two seasons.

Here is a breakdown of the good, and the bad of the NY Giants signing of Devontae Booker, as well as a grade for the move:

The good:

Booker has special teams experience, and that is something that the NY Giants have prioritized in recent seasons, and never more than last season upon Joe Judge’s arrival as head coach.

As a complement and insurance policy to Barkley, Booker should fit nicely into the NY Giants’ backfield. According to Pro Football Focus, Booker had eight explosive runs — of more than 10 yards — and averaged 2.69 yards after contact, while forcing 10 missed tackles.

Similarly, Booker is a competent pass-catcher out of the backfield, catching 17 of his 21 targets last season for 84 yards. Through the first five seasons of his career, Booker caught 122 passes for 956 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 7.8 yards per reception.