New York Giants Position Review: Running Backs

Is a philosophical shift about to hit the Giants running backs group?

As long as Saquon Barkley has been healthy, he has been the bell cow for the New York Giants at the running back spot.

With good reason. When the team puts him out of the field, Barkley is a dual threat who doesn't necessarily telegraph that a run is coming or that he will be a decoy. Barkley can also contribute to the passing game, not just out of the backfield--he can line up wide, which he did 36 times this past season (with just 12 deep throws going his way, per Sports Info Solutions).

Barkley also finished with the 16th most rushing yards (962) this season behind an inconsistent offensive line, and with a target on his back, it is impressive.

That said, the pending UFA only managed to record one 100+ rushing game, which took 36 carries, and while he had little problem getting through the line of scrimmage, he wasn't as successful as in the past in getting through the second level. His longest run of the season went for 36 yards as he appears to have lost that second gear he once had.

With Barkley still very much interested in a long-term deal to remain a Giant for life, general manager Joe Schoen has to balance sentimentality with business sense. Barkley isn't the runner he once was--he's inconsistent with his instincts and missed quite a few more reads this year. He's also not as physical in between the tackles, rarely pushing a pile. And after recording just nine drops in his first three seasons, that total over the last three years has jumped to 17.

The bottom line is that Barkley's days as the Giants bell cow are likely over, the team likely to shift to more of a committee approach moving forward. Whether that means the end of Barkley's days as a Giant remains to be seen--we believe that could be the case this year if the two sides can't agree on a contract, as we don't see the Giants absorbing another franchise tag that would be worth $12.3 million in a year where so many other needs are pressing.

But it's still early enough that it could still work if both sides are honest with each other and themselves. Meanwhile, let's look at who else the Giants have that could form part of a post-Barkley bell cow committee in 2024.

New York Giants running back Matt Breida (31) is stopped by Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during the first half of a preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 :: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Matt Breida

Breida is set to be an unrestricted free agent and was still an underrated contributor on offense and special teams, his bread and butter being pass blocking, which enabled the coaches to spare Barkley of that task.

Breida’s lack of size (195 pounds) and slashing style prevent him from avoiding tacklers and being anything more than a rotation guy. He rarely broke tackles--just seven this past season, which was one more than his career low of six in 200 with Miami (based on at least 70 rushing attempts). 

Breida isn't one to move a pile, and he frequently went down a little too easily upon contact, his 2.2 yards-after-contact his second-lowest average (again, based on at least 70 rushing attempts). The Giants will likely move on from him now that they have Eric Gray in the fold.

Aug 18, 2023; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; The Carolina Panthers vs. the New York Giants in an NFL preseason game at MetLife Stadium. New York Giants Eric Gray (20) celebrates after scoring touchdown in the second quarter :: © Michael Karas / USA TODAY NETWORK

Eric Gray

The rookie had a rocky start to his career largely thanks to the coaches trying to force him into a returner role for which he was not a fit, both on punts and kickoffs--why the coaches felt that a guy who ran a 4.62 in the 40-yard dash a the combine would be a fit for this role remains a mystery for the ages, as Gray couldn't make the first guy miss.

Gray landed on injured reserve on October 24, but he was later activated and began to see snaps on offense, where he showed signs of being able to take the ball up the gut. Gray is built low to the ground with thick thighs and a good feel for the position, but he lacks the foot speed to break away.

If Gray can get a little thicker in his upper body to better hold up against the blitz, there might be a steady role for him as a third-down back in his future. As far as a contributing runner, based on the small sample size, he's primarily a between-the-tackles guy.

Oct 22, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Gary Brightwell (23) warms up before the game against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Gary Brightwell

Brightwell became an afterthought, appearing in just seven games once ankle and hamstring injuries landed him on injured reserve. He was designated to return with three weeks in the regular season but never returned to the 53-man roster. Brightwell has always been regarded as more of a special teams contributor, and that's where he'll have to make his mark this coming season, the last of his rookie deal.

Aug 11, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Giants running back Jashaun Corbin (25) runs after a catch during the second half of a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Jashaun Corbin

When injuries to Brightwell and Gray thinned out the depth on this unit, the Giants brought Corbin back after they cut him in training camp, and he landed on the Carolina Panthers practice squad. Corbin was active for five games this season, his best showing coming in garbage time in the second game against the Dallas Cowboys when he caught three passes for 12 yards.

Corbin was also a solid special teams player who played a physical game. He has another year on his contract and will get a chance to compete for a spot among the anticipated running backs committee we suspect the Giants will be moving toward in 2024.

Final Thoughts

Don't be surprised if the Giants add to the running backs group, as with Breida unlikely to be back, Barkley's future in limbo, and Brightwell and Corbin not locks to make the roster, adding to this position group, which will be coached by new running backs coach hire Joel Thomas is one of the more underrated items on general manager Joe Schoen's to-do list. 

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