New York Giants 2016 NFL Draft Grades

UCLA Running Back Paul Perkins

There are few things that are guaranteed in this world. Death and taxes are two, but the Giants selecting a running back is a close third. The Giants almost always select a running back at some point in the draft, and they didn’t disappoint this year, landing Paul Perkins in the fifth round.

While some people will question this pick, as the Giants had four running backs returning from last season and already added Bobby Rainey this offseason, Perkins can fit into the rotation. He does something that Rainey, Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Orleans Darkwa or Shane Vereen don’t do often, if at all; make opponents miss.

Perkins is arguably the most elusive runner in this draft, as he can make a defender miss in the backfield with a jump cut or a juke in the open field. He does not have the breakaway speed you’d expect from someone his size, as he stands only 5-feet-10 ⅜ inches tall, but he can certainly embarrass opponents with his quick feet and shiftiness.

Perkins was a workhorse with UCLA, as he had 702 touches in his career, with excellent ball security; he fumbled only twice on all of those touches. He is a competitive runner, and is strong in the passing game as well. He is a natural receiver out of the backfield, but also a willing pass blocker. He may be slight in size, but he doesn’t back down when in pass protection.

While there are a lot of players ahead of him on the depth chart, Perkins skill set could push him into a role offensively if he plays well on special teams first. The Giants got great value at this spot with Perkins, and he should be able to contribute in a number of ways.

Grade: B+

Next: Sixth Round Grade