The New York Giants watched Saquon Barkley walk out the door and right into a Philadelphia Eagles’ uniform, which helped their rival hoist a Lombardi Trophy. That sucks, of course, but the Giants have done a good job finding low-cost replacements for the talented super-star. Joe Schoen spent the 166th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Tyrone Tracy Jr. and then the 105th pick in the 2024 draft on Cam Skattebo.
Both backs are duel-use and effective players; the latter became a league sensation before his devastating lower-leg injury, and the former filled in well and has achieved back-to-back 1000+ yards from scrimmage seasons. The idea of using day three picks on an undervalued position, like running back, worked for the Giants, but the debate remains — should the Giants look to select a running back at five? That running back is, of course, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. With that stated, here are running back options for the Giants on all three days of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Day 1
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
The Saquon Barkley debate is now rekindled with rumors circulating that the Giants may select Love with their fifth overall selection. The Giants are in a completely different situation than they were back in 2018, with Jaxson Dart on a rookie contract, and the 2026 NFL Draft is devoid of top-end talent, blue-chip, talent. Sure, Love fits the bill as a blue-chipper, but Love will be one of the top paid running backs in the league if he’s selected at five — is that wise?
I can see a scenario where Love is selected and I don’t hate it, even though there’s ammunition to suggest otherwise. Still, he’s a very talented back who was rightfully a unanimous All-American, Love averaged 4.50 yards after contact with 56 missed tackle forced and a 52.9% breakaway percentage. His career average was 4.25 yards after contact and he forced 134 missed tackles through three years (433 rushing attempts).
Love is a healthy 6-foot, 212 pounds, with a 1.55 10-yard-split and a 96th percentile 40-yard-dash — a 4.36! His speed, acceleration, and explosiveness were all on display, as was his contact balance and rare spatial awareness. Love finished his career with 2,874 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns with just one fumble, and he caught 62 of 74 passes for 593 yards with just four drops and six touchdowns. He is a dynamic mismatch receiving threat for an offense.
He was a dynamic force for the Fighting Irish. He pairs elite athleticism with the ability to force missed tackles and outrun defenders’ pursuit angles with ease. He is decisive, patient, and is difficult to square up, while having the capability of finding a crease and housing runs. Not only is he a homerun threat, but a danger near the line of scrimmage, and a hassle to bring down to the ground due to elite contact balance.
Few running backs in recent memory share his profile; Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson are two comparisons that come to mind. Love possesses that same kind of upside—perhaps even more—and in the right situation, he has the potential to develop into one of the NFL’s premier running backs. Love has a three-down skill-set and can thrive in any rushing scheme. He will be a player that will keep defensive coordinators up at night. This is one reason why I’m okay with the selection, although there will be other players that I would prefer.
Day 2
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s change up is most people’s second favorite running back in this draft class. Price averaged 3.92 yards after contact through 113 carries in 2025, but he also forced 32 missed tackles. He finished his college career with a 4.28 yards after contact number with 73 missed tackles forced, and an impressive six yards per carry. Price finished his career with 1,690 rushing yards (6 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns with four fumbles. He caught 15 of 18 targets for just 162 yards — there’s more to this side of his profile that has not been actualized.
Price was an explosive weapon for the Fightin’ Irish, combining excellent burst, quick feet, and edge speed that consistently stresses defenses. He accelerates quickly through the line of scrimmage and shows the agility and fluid hips needed to make defenders miss in tight spaces. Price is an instinctive runner with strong vision, patience, and spatial awareness, which allow him to set up blocks and maximize available rushing lanes.
While not heavily utilized in the passing game, he looked comfortable when targeted and has the athletic traits to expand that role. Price also brings elite special teams value, highlighted by multiple kickoff return touchdowns, making him a constant big-play threat whenever he touches the ball. He has running back one upside, but durability is a concern for Price. Still, he’s an asset that will make an offense more dynamic.
Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Few players made more money for themselves after the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine than Mike Washington Jr, who tested phenomenally:
Washington spent the first three years of his college career at Buffalo before transferring to New Mexico State for the 2024 season and then to Arkansas for his final year. He never eclipsed 700 yards rushing in his first four seasons, but he rushed for 1,066 yards (6.4 yards per carry) with eight touchdowns and a respectable 3.86 yards after contact in 2025. Washington Jr. finished his career with 2,870 rushing yards (4.9 yards per carry) and 26 touchdowns with 10 fumbles and a 3.09 yards after contact number.
Washington Jr. forced 101 missed tackles through his career and caught 73 of 107 passes for 487 yards with eight drops and three receiving touchdowns. The Giants currently only have one day two pick — I don’t envision them spending that on a running back, but a trade down may open up that possiblity.
Day 3
Jonah Coleman, Washington
The 5-foot-8, 220-pound back is a dense, low, runner who had a 23.6% avoided tackle rate, while showcasing good vision and a nice feel for sifting through traffic at the line of scrimmage. Coleman spent his first two seasons at Arizona before transferring to Washington after the 2023 season. He finished his college career with 3,053 yards, 34 touchdowns, two fumbles, a very impressive 4.12 yards after contact number, with an average of 5.5 yards per carry. He also has a good receiving profile.
He caught 31 of 34 passes for 346 yards with two touchdowns in 2025 and finished his career with 88 catches on 109 targets for 825 yards with three scores. He can also pass protect, but does lack the necessary breakaway speed to likely slip into Day 2 of the NFL draft.
Nick Singleton, Penn State
Singleton immediately saw work as a freshman. He averaged 6.8 yards on 156 rushing attempts in his freshman season with a yards after contact of 4.58 and 33 missed tackles forced. He finished his college career with 3.44 yards after contact and 106 missed tackles forced. Singleton had two seasons with more than 1,000 yards rushing, and he was also a reliable receiver out of the backfield. He was also Third Team All-Big-10 in 2023, and Big-Ten Freshman of the Year in 2022.
Singleton did, however, have a down season, statistically. Penn State split carries between Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who led the team in rushing yards per game over Singleton (who had 4.4 yards per carry). Singleton did not fumble the football in his senior season, though, but fumbled it a total of six times through his previous three seasons.
Singleton, unfortunately, fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a Senior Bowl practice, which rendered him unable to test at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. He had surgery in February.
He’s is a downhill runner with a solid frame and good straight line speed. He long-strides with very good acceleration to separate from pursuing defenders, while being able to deliver punishment on contact once his speed is built up. He struggles to be elusive due to lower-body tightness and a lack of wiggle that could hinder his upside at the next level.
I don’t love player comparisons, but Braelon Allen came to mind for me – high top end speed power runner, who struggles with lateral agility. I also love Singleton’s pass protection ability. His hands aren’t always crisps, but it’s obvious that Singleton takes that side of his craft seriously.
Singleton’s vision was inconsistent, with flashes of brilliance and patience when running in power/gap. He is a reliable receiver with a ton of upside as a special teams’ returner. Singleton is talented, well-rounded in the sense of versatility, but could stand to refine his craft and develop more consistency. His broken foot at the Senior Bowl will likely drop him in the draft, but he could be a day three asset who earns a backfield role in year one.
Robert Henry Jr., UTSA
An undersized back with a very impressive 6.9-yards per carry number last season — he fishied his three year college career with 5.8 ypc, 27 touchdowns, 2,339 yards on the ground, and six fumbles. He also had a very high 4.25 yards after contact number in 2025, and a 3.65 number for his career. Here’s his testing:
He was a First-Team All-American in 2025 and he caught evaluators eyes against Texas A&M, after he rushed for 11.1 yards per carry with a total of 177 yards and two scores in Week 1 of the 2025 season. Henry Jr. started his college career at Jones College and then transferred to UTSA. He’s caught 55 of 70 passes for 419 yards with three touchdowns through his three seasons at UTSA. Henry Jr. is a backend roster player with solid explosiveness, who could be an option for depth.
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