The 2024 running back class was not one to remember, and that was known going into the class. The first back picked was Jonathon Brooks (No. 46), and he was coming off a torn ACL. There were only four running backs selected on the first two days of the draft (Brooks, Trey Benson, Blake Corum, and MarShawn Lloyd), and they combined for 535 rushing yards on the season.
That is why Tyrone Tracy’s rookie season for the Giants should not be forgotten. The former Iowa receiver who transferred to Purdue and became a running back was fantastic in 2024, rushing for 839 yards and five touchdowns. He finished the year with 1,123 yards from scrimmage and averaged 4.9 yards per touch on 230 touches. It’s pretty rare for a Day 3 pick to get that type of workload, let alone a former receiver who is still learning how to play the position.
Despite an incredibly impressive rookie season, Tracy’s role in the offense this season is up in the air. And that is because the Giants selected Cam Skattebo in Round 4, one of college football’s most productive running backs. While Skattebo won’t be the clear-cut Day 1 starter, he does figure to have a role right away.
So what does that mean for Tracy in Year 2?
In a recent article by Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus, he wrote about Tracy and his expected role in Year 2, now with Skattebo on the roster. Here is how he projects the running back situation playing out in New York:
"Given the size of the two backs and Tracy’s history as a wide receiver, it would make sense for Skattebo to play on early downs, particularly in short-yardage situations, while Tracy plays more on passing downs. However, Skattebo was used much more as a receiver in college compared to other running backs of a similar size. This means it’s completely up in the air how snaps will be distributed between these two running backs just from their characteristics. "Nathan Jahnke, Pro Football Focus
Tyrone Tracy has his work cut out for him to keep a significant role in the New York Giants' backfield
It is worth mentioning that Jahnke also suggested that Devin Singletary could still see touches in the offense, meaning that we could have a three-way split for playing time. It's going to be hard for Tracy to earn another 230 touches this season, but his big-play potential and his speed will make him hard to pull off the field. You can bet that Skattebo will see plenty of carries between the tackles, but it’s Tracy who should get the work in the passing game, at least right away.
This feels like a running back room that will certainly use a committee approach, but don’t be surprised if Tracy doesn’t get most of the work right away. Skattebo is highly productive coming out of school, but his lack of high-end athletic traits might limit him and the offense out of the gate.
Expect Tracy to remain the “featured” back in the offense and for Skattebo and Singletary to rotate in depending on the situation. Tracy might not post another 1,100-yard season in 2025, but he can be every bit as impactful and dangerous as he was during his rookie season.