Joe Schoen and the New York Giants spent last offseason trying to spin the Saquon Barkley departure as a business decision. Then he signed with the Eagles, dropped a 2,005-yard season with 15 total touchdowns, and helped them win a Super Bowl. One of the best running back seasons in NFL history—and it happened with their most hated rivals. And then he re-set the market with his new contract extension. Cool beans.
Schoen tried to save face by taking Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the fifth round of the 2024 draft and to be fair, it sort of worked. Tracy had a quietly excellent rookie year, putting up 1,123 scrimmage yards, six total touchdowns, and making the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He was consistent, reliable, and made plays. He outplayed his draft slot in just about every way.
Still, the NFL moves fast, and so do front offices looking to upgrade. Now, just one year later, Tracy’s job might already be on the line. Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson just wrapped up a Top 30 visit with the G-Men—and he didn’t walk in as a stranger. He even posted a photo on his Instagram story with the Giants logo, confirming he was quite literally in the building.
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson is in the Giants building today.
— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) April 9, 2025
Giants RB Coach Ladell Betts coached him the last 3 years. pic.twitter.com/C6MeReHFtq
Kaleb Johnson gets one step closer to reuniting with former RB coach
If you’re looking for tea leaves to read, this one’s bolded and underlined. Johnson played three seasons at Iowa under now-Giants running backs coach Ladell Betts, and the two did serious damage together. Johnson is coming off a ridiculous 2024 season that saw him rack up 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, earning All-American honors.
That connection matters. Betts didn’t just recruit Johnson—he coached him, developed him, and knows exactly what kind of player and person he is. That’s the kind of inside intel you can’t get from a generic interview. So if the Giants are using one of their official Top 30 visits on Johnson, it’s probably not just a formality. Betts might’ve already done most of the convincing behind the scenes.
At 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, Johnson is a bruiser with vision and explosiveness. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season and flashed passing-game upside with 22 receptions and two scores through the air. He’s physical in pass pro, and while he’s not a polished third-down back just yet, he’s trending that way.
New York has done their homework at running back this cycle—hosting guys like Quinshon Judkins and Ollie Gordon II—and Johnson fits right into that Day 2 mix. If they take him, it presumably won’t be to ride the bench.
That’s where things get interesting. Tracy Jr. is already 25, and turning 26 this season. Johnson is 21 and already built like an every-down back. If Big Blue wants to lean into a power-run identity with Betts driving the room, Johnson could go from “visit” to “starter” real quick.
And just like that, the guy who replaced Barkley might just be fighting to stay on the field.