Some might argue that three’s a crowd, but even those who prefer smaller groups can’t argue that such a mindset doesn’t apply to NFL running back rooms.
The good news for John Harbaugh is that he inherited a New York Giants team with what should be a dynamic 1-2 punch in the backfield. Tyrone Tracy Jr. has rushed for nearly 1,600 yards on 4.3 yards per carry over the last two years, and Cam Skattebo emerged as a touchdown machine before a season-ending ankle injury last October.
Technically, the Giants already have their third piece of the puzzle, with Devin Singletary entering the final year of his contract. However, as the G-Men look to accelerate their latest rebuild, Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen shouldn’t dismiss adding another running back through the upcoming draft.
The Giants must target another running back in the 2026 NFL Draft
To be clear, this isn’t an indictment of Tracy or Skattebo, both of whom are still on their rookie contracts. As talented as Tracy is, he turns 27 in November, so he doesn’t have age working on his side the way other third-year backs do.
Consider that Kimani Vidal, who went 15 picks after Tracy, turns 25 in August. The vast majority of running backs have trouble staying successful in their early 30s, so counting on Tracy as the long-term option carries inherent risk.
As for Skattebo, he’s coming off a significant ankle injury. We’ve seen running backs rebound from devastating injuries before — perhaps most notably Adrian Peterson — but the counter is Nick Chubb, who has never been the same since tearing his left knee in 2023.
Singletary turns 29 in September, and he’s averaged 3.9 yards per carry over two seasons with Big Blue. He’s also not much of a playmaker as a receiver, and we’ll see whether any teams call the Giants about a possible trade over the summer.
What running backs could the New York Giants pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Assuming that the Giants consider drafting a running back later this month, it makes the most sense to take one on Day 3. Using the No. 5 pick on Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love would be a waste, and the Giants should have learned that lesson from Saquon Barkley. An above-average to elite running back can only carry a rebuilding team so far.
I’m personally intrigued by Clemson’s Adam Randall, a converted receiver who brings size (6-foot-3, 232 pounds) and strength (26 bench reps). Randall totaled 5.2 yards per touch last year, and he’ll play his entire rookie season at 22.
However, the most significant knock on Randall is his speed; he ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the second-worst among running backs.
“Randall is still raw, but RBs with his size, speed and route skill are rare,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein wrote. “He offers value as a developmental option with RB2 upside in a zone-heavy scheme.”
There’s also Pittsburgh running back Desmond Reid, though injuries limited him to 278 rushing yards in seven games last year. However, Reid averaged 7.2 yards per touch and has impressed as a receiver.
Running back isn’t the Giants’ biggest need, and it might not even crack the top five. That shouldn’t stop Harbaugh and Schoen from at least considering bolstering their backfield depth on Day 3, especially with five picks between the fourth and sixth rounds.