In one year with the New York Giants, running back Cam Skattebo has ranged from cult hero to offseason headache, hitting all of the spots in between. He's a capable starting running back, but he's not enough to stop Big Blue from adding to the room if the right opportunity presents itself.
That opportunity will come in the 2027 NFL Draft. The upcoming class as a whole is loaded with top-end talent, and the running back group is no different. As the college football season kicks off, there are plenty of backs who could bring a major boost to New York's backfield.
These five are worth watching in 2026.
5 RBs Giants should already have their eyes on for the 2027 NFL Draft
No running back in college football can match the efficiency of Louisville's Isaac Brown. After 266 career carries, he's averaging 7.7 yards a pop and has scored 18 touchdowns. He's had 49 carries of ten or more yards. Once Brown finds open space, there's not much that defenses can do to stop him.
At 190 pounds, he's smaller than most NFL backs, potentially leading to a limited workload in the league. His explosive ability would pair perfectly with Skattebo's physicality between the tackles, giving New York a thunder-and-lightning kind of tandem.
Justice Haynes has a few knocks on his profile. After transferring to Georgia Tech, he's at his third program in four years and is coming off a major foot surgery.
But the rushing ability is too good to ignore. Haynes has the one-cut explosiveness that NFL coaches look for. Behind a capable offensive line, he can put up huge numbers. If he can overcome the concerns about the injury that ended his 2025 season, he'll solidify himself as a Day 2 draft pick next offseason.
If the 2027 NFL Draft started today, three running backs could be off the board by the end of the first round. Florida's Jadan Baugh deserves his place among those three. He put up 1,170 rushing yards and 210 receiving yards in 12 games last season. His game is as well-rounded as any back in the class, and he has the frame to command a full-time workload in the NFL.
Baugh is the kind of back you build your offense around. With the Giants, he could solidify the downhill, physical identity that John Harbaugh wants his offense to embody.
Ahmad Hardy will go down as one of the most productive running backs in recent college football history. He has racked up 3,000 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns over the last two seasons. He can make SEC defenders miss in his sleep, logging the most missed tackles forced in the FBS since 2024.
The Missouri back is almost never used as a receiver, but his limited pass-catching tape shows the potential for more. Hardy would be the leader of the Giants' backfield from the day he arrived.
When an SEC running back scores 24 touchdowns, NFL teams pay attention. That's exactly what Ole Miss prospect Kewan Lacy did in 2025. Lacy is a consistent, explosive back who fights to pick up extra yardage every time he carries the ball.
He logged 335 touches last season, leading to concerns about his long-term durability. As long as his body can hold up, Lacy will be a first-round pick next offseason.
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