Giants Add RB Eric Gray in Fifth Round of Draft
It was a long wait to start Day 3 of the NFL draft for the New York Giants, but they're hoping it was worth it.
The Giants, who traded away their fourth-round pick, took the Rams on Friday so they could move up to draft Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt in the third round, finally went on the clock in the fifth round, where they plucked Oklahoma running back Eric Gray with Pick No. 172 overall.
The 2023 running backs class is unusually deep this year, so it was just a matter of when the Giants would select a back to add to a group that includes starter Saquon Barkley and backups Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, and Jashaun Corbin.
Gray was chosen ahead of Zach Evans (Mississippi). Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota) and Keaton Mitchell (East Carolina).
Why the Giants Made the Move
Depth. Starter Saquon Barkley remains at a contract impasse with the Giants, with any signs of the two sides reaching a multiyear deal appearing to be very slim as of this writing unless Barkley's side backs down off its demands. Meanwhile, Matt Breida only re-signed for one year.
Thus with two of the four runnings backs on the roster--the other two being Brightwell and Corbin, both of whom are signed beyond this year--having uncertain long-term futures with the club, it only made sense for the Giants to add from what's a deep running backs class.
Scouting Reports
Inside Football: Short back (5’9-1/2”-207). Modest speed. Not a home run threat. Very decisive. Doesn’t dance. Lacks a jump-cut. Creative in open spaces; not so much in tight spaces. Excellent receiver. Willing blocker with an anchor. Has a burst. Quick-footed. Quick decision-maker. No wasted steps. Average physicality. Can take a hit. Good balance. Competitive. Smart.
NFL Draft Bible: Eric Gray possesses scheme diversity on his resume, displaying the patience and cutback prowess needed for Zone schemes and the quick decision making, plus ability to get skinny between the tackles for Gap/Power schemes. Gray excels with the mental aspect of the RB position, displaying the vision+processing to make split-second decisions and choose the correct hole.
If a lane isn’t there, however, Gray knows exactly how to press the line and manipulate LBs in the wrong direction and create his own pathway, then show off his AA to burst into open space. Gray has the ideal short-area acceleration to excel in the 5-15 yard areas of the field which combined with his cat-like agility allows him to easily defeat pursuit angles by LBs and DBs.
Gray’s cuts to avoid defenders are like a WR working a release at the line, utilizing head fakes, jab steps and attacking defenders’ leverage to create space. He has a special feel for setting up his blockers in space, whether it is a draw or a screen, Gray understands leverage so well and changes his pace and direction with ease to maximize yardage. He’s valuable in the passing game too, a hands catcher at heart and with the ball in his hands his AA shines through with YAC.
- Get the latest breaking news and analysis on the New York Giants
- Follow and like us on Facebook
- Submit your questions for our mailbag
- Check out the Giants Country YouTube Channel.
- Subscribe and like the LockedOn Giants YouTube Channel
- Sign up for our FREE message board forums
- Get your Giants tickets from SI Tickets!
