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New York Giants Select Running Back Paul Perkins 149th Overall

By Kenneth Teape

Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Paul Perkins (24) scores on a touchdown run against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Paul Perkins (24) scores on a touchdown run against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants selected running back Paul Perkins out of UCLA in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, making Perkins the 149th overall selection.

The New York Giants went back to the running back well in the 2016 NFL Draft, selecting UCLA’s Paul Perkins with the 149th overall pick. There are a couple of things that are for certain in this world, such as death and taxes, but the Giants selecting a running back is right up there as well.

Running back is a position the Giants almost always look at late in the draft, and this year was no different. In Perkins, the Giants get a player that had excellent production in his time with the Bruins, and someone that could factor in to their backfield rotation right away.

While Perkins will probably never be a featured back given his size, standing 5-feet-10 3/8 inches and weighing 208 pounds, he can be a very useful rotation back. He doesn’t let the lack of size or power slow him down, as he produced at a high level despite the limitations. While he doesn’t have the greatest top-end speed, there are very few players as shifty and elusive as he is.

Perkins can make defenders look bad with the moves that he can put on in the open field. He is extremely shifty, and uses that ability to get through holes made by the offensive line. He can make a defender miss in the backfield penetrating as well as in the open field, as his elusiveness and vision are a deadly combination.

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The vision and decisiveness as a runner is something Giants fans will love to see. Too often recently we have seen running backs unable to navigate the backfield for the hole, continually running into the backs of the offensive line. It is something Andre Williams has become very good at, which makes him a frustrating player to watch after what he did at Boston College. That will not be a problem with Perkins, as he as exceptional vision and patience, making up for the lack of speed.

What the Giants will love from him is the production that he brings in the passing game. Not only is he a capable receiver out of the backfield, showing natural ability to catch the ball, he is a willing blocker. Despite the size limitations, he puts his nose right into the action as he aggressively picks up blitzing linebackers.

While Perkins played in all 39 games of his UCLA career, there are some durability concerns as he was knocked out of a couple of games. Also, the workload was immense, as he had 702 offensive touches for the Bruins. Those possessions also gave Perkins to showcase arguably the strongest asset in his game, and that is ball security. In those 702 touches, Perkins fumbled only twice, which is an outstanding number.

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We have seen fumbles quickly put players in the doghouse when Tom Coughlin was the head coach, and that mindset should continue under Ben McAdaoo. In Perkins, McAdoo is getting a very versatile running back that will contribute in a number of different ways. While he may not blow by you with speed, he could leave you in the dust with a jump cut or juke.

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