New York Giants: Paul Perkins Will Break into RB Rotation

New York Giants running back Paul Perkins will rejoin the team for mandatory minicamp. What are his chances at supplanting Andre Williams as the No. 2 ball-carrier in the backfield?

Oct 19, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants running back Andre Williams (44) on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New York 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite a delayed start to the offseason, New York Giants running back Paul Perkins will finish strong in the summer.

Perkins joined the team for rookie minicamp in May but returned to UCLA to complete his academic obligations. He missed all 10 organized team activity sessions.

Off the field, he closed a chapter at UCLA as a student.

Perkins’ athletic resume will follow him into the pros. He totaled 4,229 yards from scrimmage in three years. As a sophomore, he ranked No. 15 in the nation among all ball-carriers with 1,572 yards on the ground. In the following year, he logged 15 total touchdowns.

New York Giants running back, former UCLA ball-carrier, Paul Perkins running toward the end zone.

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 /

With NFL teams choosing patience in selecting running backs, Perkins fell to the fifth round, but his draft status won’t impede his chance at breaking into the Giants’ running back committee.

Despite head coach Ben McAdoo publicly voicing faith in running back Andre Williams as a contributor in the upcoming season, per NJ.com reporter Jordan Raanan, the numbers don’t lie.

The third-year back struggles with efficiency. As a rookie, he logged 721 yards and seven touchdowns but only averaged 3.2 yards per carry over his first two years in the league.

McAdoo won’t say this publicly, but Williams’ spot in the rotation will be up for grabs. If the team had so much confidence in him, why draft Perkins?

As for the Giants’ rookie ball-carrier, he adds versatility to the backfield. Williams isn’t a receiving threat in the short passing attack. Perkins won’t unseat Shane Vereen as the best pass-catcher among the running backs right away, but the UCLA product has displayed the ability to accumulate yards after the catch.

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Behind Rashad Jennings, the projected No. 1 running back, Perkins could slide into the No. 2 spot with Vereen as the specialized receiver in the group.

The UCLA graduate will take a backseat during mandatory minicamp to learn the system. However, if Williams looks sluggish in July and August, Perkins will see plenty of preseason snaps. The pressure could bring out the best in the incumbent No. 2 running back or cause him to fold in the summer heat.

The Giants need a boost in the backfield to finish stronger near the end zone. As a team, New York ranked No. 29 in rushing touchdowns. With Perkins in the rotation taking on a significant workload, Jennings could preserve his energy and become the hammer in goal-line situations. The 31-year-old has a 6’1”, 231-pound frame equipped to finish drives.

The front office signed fifth-year running back Bobby Rainey and undrafted Illinois State ball-carrier Marshaun Coprich in the offseason. Orleans Darkwa will also compete for a spot on the depth chart after logging minimal impact in his first season in New York.

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The depth chart will lose a few fringe players, but the best talent will have an opportunity to contribute in offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan’s running back committee.

Based on Perkins’ impressive collegiate numbers as a versatile grind-it-out ball-carrier and reliable receiver, he’s the running back to watch during training camp and preseason.

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