This is not a high priority, but cheap depth is always welcome
The New York Giants found a true contributor in Tyrone Tracy Jr. with their fifth-round pick in last year’s draft. Tracy Jr. amassed more than 1,000 total yards with six touchdowns and averaged 4.4 yards per carry with 34 missed tackles forced. He effectively took the primary role away from last year’s free agent addition, Devin Singletary, after the veteran missed two games with a groin injury.
Singletary signed a three-year $16.5 million contract with $9.5 million guaranteed last year. He rushed for 437 yards (3.9 yards per carry) with four touchdowns. His role was significantly scaled back toward the end of the season.
It’s unlikely the Giants will sign a running back of significance in free agency with Tracy, Singletary and Eric Gray still under contract, but here are five possible contributors who may make sense for Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll.
Khalil Herbert, CIN
The Chicago Bears traded Herbert to the Cincinnati Bengals for a seventh-round pick in early November last season. Herbert fell out of favor in Chicago but only earned 112 snaps over eight appearances for the Bengals.
The 26-year-old, 5-foot-9, 212-pound back, has plenty of redeeming qualities as a rusher. He’s quick enough to gain the edge on outside runs and physical enough to run in between the tackles while possessing a solid enough skill set in the passing game. Herbert has rushed for 1,906 yards (4.8 yards per carry) with nine total touchdowns and just two fumbles in his career.
Herbert has a 3.08 yards after contact average — it’s just his 2024 numbers were abysmally bad in their small sample size (1.83 YCO/A and 2 missed tackles forced). Prior to 2024, Herbert had three years of above-average play with several traits that running backs need to be successful.
Spotrac has Herbert’s market value set for $2 million on a one-year deal. He would be an upgrade over Gray, and still possesses upside. He’s not a terrible option if the Giants desire to add a running back in free agency.
Ameer Abdullah, LVR
Abdullah may be the quintessential third-back in a rotation over the last several years. He backed up Josh Jacobs and Zamir White from 2022-2023 and impressed whenever he earned snaps, especially as a pass catcher. He seized the starting role toward the end of the 2024 season when White fell out of favor, and Alexander Mattison was injured.
Abdullah averaged more than 5.4 yards per carry in his final two games of the year. He finished the 2024 season with 311 rushing yards (4.7 YPC) with two rushing touchdowns. He added 261 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The 31-year-old also worked with Giants’ offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo for two seasons in Las Vegas.
Abdullah’s tape was solid last season with the Raiders, and Spotrac has his contract at just $1.8 million over one season. Like many on this list, he would push Gray for snaps on the roster. Abdullah is just 5-9, 203 pounds, so he isn’t as thick as Gray, but he offers more in the receiving phase and still has burst. Abdullah also offers value as a special teams player and a returner.
D’Ernest Johnson, JAX
Johnson plays well whenever he is forced into action. He spent his first four years in Cleveland, mostly as the third back behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. In limited action, Johnson has rushed for 989 yards (4.6 YPC) and three touchdowns with 41 missed tackles forced and a 2.98 yards after-contact number.
The 28-year-old also caught 53 of 66 passes for 465 yards through his career with adequacy as a protector in the pocket. Johnson was behind Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby in 2024, carrying the football 32 times for 143 yards (4.5 YPC).
Spotrac has Johnson’s market value at a cheap $1.3 million over one year. His addition would provide an upgrade for the Giants. Johnson has rarely received a true chance to compete for snaps; he wouldn’t necessarily receive that with the Giants’ current room, either, but he would give the Giants more proven security behind Tracy Jr. and Singletary.
Samaje Perine, KC
Perine has carved out a respectable role since 2021 and has played well in that role for three teams over that time period. He’s played in two Super Bowls (Cin., 2021; KC, 2024) and has occupied the two-minute drill — pass protecting — role for those two teams and the Denver Broncos in 2023.
Perine has caught 192 passes on 220 targets for 1,612 yards and eight touchdowns in his career, but most of those statistics were accrued since 2021. He also sports solid yards-per-carry mark as a rusher, albeit some of this is due to third-and-long draw rushes that lead to bigger gains against a preventive defense.
He rushed for 4.8, 4.5, and 4.1 yards per carry over the last three seasons, respectively. He gained 100 yards on 21 carries this past season. The Giants have Tracy to occupy their pass-catching role, and I’m pleased with his skill set and growth as a pass protector and third-down back. Still, Perine is a veteran presence who could possibly push Gray and be another secure option for the Giants, who could handle a variety of responsibilities.
Nyheim Hines, CLE
The 28-year-old has not played since his devastating jet-ski accident prior that occurred prior to the 2023 season. Hines sustained a leg injury and spent the 2023 season on the Bills’ reserve/non-football injury list; this came after the Bills traded Zack Moss and a conditional sixth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts. Hines was a massive difference-maker on special teams for the Bills.
The former North Carolina State product spent the 2024 season on the Browns practice squad and has not seen game action in two seasons, so why should the Giants pursue him? Firstly, it would be a vet-minimum deal with no guarantees and — depending on his health/abilities — could look to replace Imhir Smith-Marsette and Gunner Olszewski as a returner.
If Hines doesn’t make the team, the Giants could move on, and the effects will be insignificant. If he’s back to his old self, he could win a special teams job while being an asset as a pass catcher and a pass protector behind Tracy and Singletary, while possibly pushing Gray for a roster spot.