Giants 2023 fifth-round draft pick named potential sleeper candidate

The New York Giants may have found a future starting running back on the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

For a piece published Friday, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic named New York ball-carrier and fifth-round choice Eric Gray among potential "Day 3 NFL Draft sleepers who can make an immediate impact as rookies." 

The Giants took a flier on Gray after they used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain star running back Saquon Barkley through the spring and summer. There's no indication Barkley and the Giants are close to signing a long-term contract, and it appears the 26-year-old will eventually have to accept playing on the $10.091M franchise tender for 2023 unless he gives his employer a discount. 

"...In a perfect world, the Giants would keep Barkley and Gray for a while," Baumgardner explained. "That pairing could be a lot of fun." 

Gray could prove to be a useful weapon in both the rushing and passing attacks. During his final college season with the Oklahoma Sooners, he recorded 1,366 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 213 carries along with 33 receptions for 229 yards. 

Add in that the Giants probably need more offensive firepower despite acquiring tight end Darren Waller this offseason, and it's easy to understand why Baumgardner believes Gray could be an immediate contributor for a team that qualified for the playoffs and then earned a road postseason win in January. 

"Gray has the wiggle to be a big-time weapon in the pass game and on the perimeter as a runner," Baumgardner continued. "But I wouldn’t look at him as a potential long-term replacement for Barkley so much as a guy who can help Barkley right now. The Giants can put both backs on the field together and create matchup problems all over the place." 

It seems unlikely Barkley will hold out to the point he'd forfeit money during the regular season, and logic suggests he only needs to be so familiar with Gray's playing style for them to quickly evolve into a solid one-two punch. 

Gray may one day replace Barkley in the Big Blue backfield, but such discussions probably can wait until next winter at the earliest.