After a long wait on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, the NY Giants have made their first move of the day, going with more help on offense for Brian Daboll. Leading up to the weekend, the expectation was that the Giants would go with a running back before Saturday came to a close.
Well, that's exactly what has happened in the fifth round. With the No. 172 overall pick, the Giants and Joe Schoen have decided to rock with Oklahoma speedster Eric Gray. Last season for the Sooners, Gray rushed for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Giants drafted Oklahoma RB Eric Gray with their fifth-round pick (No. 172 overall). Gray adds depth to the position, which has some uncertainty past this season.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) April 29, 2023
The NY Giants have drafted Oklahoma RB Eric Gray in the fifth round
A quick look at Twitter shows that the Big Blue faithful are pretty happy with the value here with Gray in the fifth round. The 5-9, 205-pounder is a bit of a bruiser and he has great cutting abilities. You've got to keep in mind that the Giants needed to add some RB depth via the draft too.
No one is saying that Gray will be able to step in and potentially replace Saquon Barkley down the road. However, Barkley is currently set to play the 2023 season on the franchise tag, but he's not happy about that. There's a chance he could be a training camp holdout.
Beyond next season too, there's a lot of uncertainty at running back for Schoen and Co. Being able to land a player of Gray's caliber on Day 3 feels like something that should be celebrated. He'll be a solid depth piece in '23 and potentially see some significant action.
Again, Gray isn't going to be looked at to be a superstar for the Giants once Week 1 rolls around, but he's got the potential to be an important piece moving forward. He fits the offensive scheme in East Rutherford as well.
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