I wonder how Joe Schoen feels about the New York Giants’ running back room heading into the 2026 season.
"We like our running back room now. [Cam Skattebo] had a really good rookie year; Tyrone Tracy has been a 1,000-yard all-purpose guy the last two years; Devin [Singletary] is back; Turbo [Dante Miller], Eric Gray coming off the injuries. We'll see what happens on draft night. But [I] like the room the way it's constructed right now."Joe Schoen
Welp, I guess that answers that. When speaking with reporters at his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, the 46-year-old GM made it crystal clear he believes New York has more than enough firepower coming out of the backfield, which might’ve accidentally exposed Big Blue’s draft plans, specifically as it pertains to one player: Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
There's been a lot of -- for lack of a better term -- love for Love as the 2026 Draft gets closer. His name is frequently mocked to the G-Men, despite the team already rostering Skatt, Tracy, and Singletary. Schoen didn’t sound like someone itching to add another name to that mix.
Joe Schoen didn’t sound like someone who wants to draft a running back
Love is the best running back prospect to enter the league since Saquon Barkley. Funny enough, the last time a team took an RB in the top five, then-Giants GM Dave Gettleman selected Barkley back in 2018. The 20-year-old has been compared to Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs if you’re looking for an easy selling point. Even Schoen called him an offensive weapon.
What makes it a harder sell is that the running back room doesn’t necessarily need another body, even if that body might be the most talented of the bunch on Day 1. Other positions could use an upgrade with top-tier prospects waiting to fill them.
Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and the Ohio State trio (linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Caleb Downs, and wide receiver Carnell Tate) all figure to be in play when Big Blue’s name is on the clock. Aside from Tate, there’s really not a guy who plays a premium position that teams typically use top-five picks on. But welcome to the 2026 Draft.
Forget what you thought you knew about positional value -- this draft isn’t going to follow that script. The marquee players are in non-traditional roles, but still represent major upgrades over what’s currently on the roster.
That includes Love.
He’s a true three-down threat with Aaron Judge-esque home-run ability, but Schoen wouldn’t have rattled off the entire running back room -- practice squad guys included -- if he were convinced the former Fighting Irish star was the clear choice.
If anything, it sounded like confidence. Confidence in a backfield led by Skatt, with Tracy right there alongside him. Before his injury, Skattebo had over 90 scrimmage yards in five straight games, with six of his seven touchdowns coming during that stretch.
And if that’s how Schoen sees it, the Giants might not be looking to fall in Love on draft night after all.
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