Is Jashaun Corbin on the Giants' Roster Bubble?

Jashaun Corbin, Running Back

Height: 6-foot-0 | Weight: 221 pounds
2022 Stats: Giants practice squad
2021 Stats*: 143 attempts for 887 yards, 7 TDs; 25 receptions for 144 yards, 1 TD

*at Florida State

When running back Jashaun Corbin was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State last year, I thought it was one of the best-undrafted signings in the entire league, not because he projected as an immediate 1,000-yard rusher but rather due to the ceiling he showed as a prospect for both Texas A&M and FSU.

Although he spent the 2022 season on the Giants practice squad, thanks to the Giants running backs staying healthy, Corbin's potential to become a legitimate NFL contributor remains. His skillset as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield and his ability in pass protection still leads me to believe that he will eventually be part of a running back committee, if not with the Giants, then with someone.

Best Case Scenario

The best-case scenario is for Corbin to become a rotational piece in the Giants backfield behind Saquon Barkley. While the Giants gave Barkley 65 percent of the designed runs in 2022, only 18.5 percent went to other running backs. The other runs all went to quarterback Daniel Jones, with an occasional jet sweet by a receiver or tight end.

Although it's still early, there have been hints that the Giants might be looking to reduce Barkley's workload to help keep him fresh for the long haul. That could mean more touches and/or snaps for the other running backs in certain situations and packages.

That’s where Corbin could come in to help. If he can work himself into the rotation to earn three to five percent of the touches, he could help keep Barkley fresh while giving the Giants another dynamic playmaker out of the backfield.

Worst Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario for Corbin is that he fails to impress in training camp and preseason, thereby losing a chance to crack the roster and land on the practice squad.

With both Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray in the running back room, Corbin has an uphill but not impossible battle. His upside alone won't cut it; he has to step up and show he can be more of a playmaker than either of those two backs.

What to Expect in 2023

Corbin should be the last running back to make the roster or the first running back on the practice squad, depending on how his summer unfolds.

There’s still promise with him long-term, but through his first year, he was unable to make the active roster for a game, that, again, due to the running backs in front of him staying healthy.

For that to change in 2023, Corbin likely has to beat out Gary Brightwell for the projected final spot in the running backs room. Brightwell didn't exactly dazzle as a special teams returner, so perhaps this is where Corbin might be able to grab the advantage in his quest to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.