When CBS Sports dropped their list of the “most questionable” draft picks for each NFL team, the Giants’ name on the list raised more than a few eyebrows. Not because it was a shocking pick—but because calling it “questionable” felt more like a stretch than a serious critique.
That honor went to Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, selected by Big Blue in the fourth round with the No. 105 overall pick. In a class that’s already drawn praise from analysts across the league, Skattebo stood out to Giants fans for all the right reasons. But not so much to CBS analyst Josh Edwards, who wrote:
“Skattebo is good in short-yardage situations because his determination will carry him across the threshold but there are questions about his top-end speed. Can he be more than a role player? Given that there were some really talented running backs still on the board, I would have gone in another direction. Overall, I thought New York had a good draft.”
Cam Skattebo fills a real need and brings big value to Giants
After Saquon Barkley left for Philadelphia, subsequently shattering Big Blue Nation's hearts, the backfield never really settled. Devin Singletary was fine in theory but didn’t do much with the reps he got. Eric Gray faded out entirely. Tyrone Tracy Jr. gave the offense a lift as a rookie, but there’s still no clear answer on whether he can carry the full workload across an entire season.
That’s why calling Cam Skattebo a “questionable pick” doesn’t track. He rushed for 1,711 yards and added 605 receiving yards at Arizona State last season alone. Like that was one season. He broke over 100 tackles and earned a 94.6 PFF rushing grade—second-best in the country. That kind of production doesn't feel questionable.
Skattebo’s not flashy, but he’s effective. He’s built like a fire hydrant and runs like one too—compact, low to the ground, and tough to move. He’s not going to hit a home run on every touch, but he’s going to wear defenses down and move the chains. That matters, especially in a cold-weather, NFC East brand of football.
The Tracy–Skattebo pairing gives the Giants a legitimate one-two punch. It’s not Barkley carrying 30 times a game anymore. It's not even Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. But it is balance. Physicality. Two different looks for defenses to deal with.
Sure, there were other backs still on the board—Trevor Etienne (Georgia) and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee) come to mind. But Skattebo fits the direction the G-Men are clearly going. He complements what they already have and brings value on all three downs—running, catching, and protecting.
CBS Sports calling the pick into question probably says more about preferences than value. The Giants got a high-usage, proven back in the fourth round who plays with the kind of edge that sticks in this city. That’s not a reach. That’s a smart move for a team that needed help at the position.
We're in on this kid. And if he plays the way he did last year, it won’t take long before Giants fans buy all the way in too.