It's no secret that the New York Giants could use running back help. Recent intel suggests they'll actively explore the market for reinforcements in the coming weeks, though Trey Benson is ostensibly available with minimal strings attached.
Benson, 24, went unclaimed after being waived by the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 24 and reverted to their injured reserve list. He suffered a setback in his surgically repaired meniscus that has bothered him since last October. This is exactly the kind of flier the Giants should consider making as they aim to rebuild their backfield on the fly.
Arizona's depth chart is crowded, and their investments in rookie Jeremiyah Love and (to a much lesser degree) Tyler Allgeier can't be overstated. Benson, who took to social media to remind everyone he's still here, seems expendable, too, given that they already tried to cut him loose.
Miss you… pic.twitter.com/1LAeSy9PrU
— Trey Benson (@treybenson) October 22, 2026
Cardinals' Trey Benson sends bat signal to Giants amid potential RB search
Does Benson's "miss you" message apply to the Cardinals or football in general? Is it a sign that he's nearing a return? What exactly the 2024 third-round pick is implying remains unclear.
Nevertheless, if Benson can overcome his nagging knee problem, he can negotiate an injury settlement with Arizona. That was widely expected when the club originally let him go. Nothing has materialized to date, yet the two sides could still agree to part ways.
Meanwhile, SNY's Connor Hughes believes New York "will likely try to add" another tailback before the trade deadline. He's skeptical about the team's odds of striking a deal, but the interest in making a move is notable. Benson presents an intriguing under-the-radar option, assuming health.
The Cardinals signed Allgeier to a two-year, $12.25 million contract in March. They then spent the 2026 No. 3 overall selection on Love less than two months later. Their actions indicate Benson isn't part of the picture, let alone the long-term plans.
A G-Men squad with a dormant rushing attack can certainly do worse than Benson, as they've learned the hard way. The former Florida State standout has quietly been very effective when right. He ranks highly in the following key categories among 79 RBs with 90-plus carries from 2024 through this year's Week 7 Thursday Night Football:
- Third in explosive run rate (15.6 percent)
- Ninth in yards per carry (4.90)
- 14th in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.20)
- 16th in yards after contact per attempt (2.52)
Granted, Benson is working with a much smaller sample size than the vast majority of his positional peers who met the aforementioned qualifier. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars' Ameer Abdullah has seen fewer totes during that stretch (90), and they're just two of four who didn't crack the triple-digit mark. The lack of volume is a concern because it largely stems from injuries; however, the Giants would have little to lose.
Benson has run for 451 yards and a touchdown on 92 attempts across 17 games since entering the NFL. He's also caught 19 passes for 123 scoreless yards.
John Harbaugh pours cold water on Giants' RB trade chatter
New York released veteran bruiser Najee Harris a couple of days after starting for them in their 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. His unceremonious exit leaves a void to fill, or so we think, but head coach John Harbaugh sees things differently.
When asked why Big Blue decided to move on from Harris, Harbaugh said it's "hard to carry four backs." With comments like that, there probably isn't much internal appetite to bring in Benson, or anyone, for that matter.
Frankly, though, Harbaugh and Co. may have already tipped their hand. For months, the Giants have telegraphed a desire to pair Cam Skattebo with another runner. They "seriously" looked at some of the top names available via the draft or free agency this offseason (h/t Jordan Raanan of ESPN).
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite 2.0 ($).
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