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Kendre Miller (RB17) Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Three running back prospects the Giants should target in the NFL Draft

By Colum Dell | Last updated 4/27/23

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is holding out for a contract extension after having the non-exclusive franchise tag placed on him earlier this offseason.

The Giants and Barkley have until July 17 to agree on a long-term deal. However, with GM Joe Schoen already hesitant to commit to the 26-year-old, is it safe to assume his days in New York are drawing to a close?

Even if Barkley secures an extension, he isn't getting any younger, has an extensive injury history and is coming off a season in which he set a career-high in carries. New York should draft another tailback to complement Barkley's game while easing his workload.

Historically, the best value for drafting running backs comes outside the first round, so here are three potential mid-round options the Giants should consider targeting:

Kendre Miller, TCU

Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 215 pounds

Miller established himself as a workhorse for the Horned Frogs last season, rushing for the third-most yards in the Big 12 (1,399) and the second-most touchdowns (17).

A knee injury that kept him out of the national championship and prevented him from participating in the NFL Scouting Combine hasn't hurt his stock much. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Miller as his No. 7 running back prospect, and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network rates him as his 78th-best player in the draft.

The Giants have Miller on their radar; team brass checked him out at TCU's Pro Day and later hosted him for a top-30 visit. He was the only running back prospect the team invited to East Rutherford.

Although his lack of receiving production may not make him the ideal choice for a complementary role, his skill set fits how the Giants utilized Barkley last season. If Barkley misses time next season, the offensive approach wouldn't have to change much if Miller was his replacement.

Kendre Miller Spotlight

Position: RB
School: TCU
Class: Junior
Recruiting Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age: 20
Height: 5-11
Weight: 215 lbs

Draft Projection: Round 3/4
NFL Comp: Jamaal Williams pic.twitter.com/zIulENID46
— Yards Per Fantasy (@YardsPer) March 10, 2023

Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

Height: 6-foot Weight: 204 pounds

Brother of former Giants draft pick R.J., McIntosh had to sit behind multiple NFL tailbacks until he received the opportunity to be Georgia's full-time starter last season. As a senior, he led the Bulldogs in rushing, recording 829 yards and 10 touchdowns.

McIntosh is also a fluent pass-catcher, adding 43 receptions for 504 yards last season, both of which ranked third on the team.

Since he didn't receive regular carries early on in Athens, McIntosh occasionally returned kicks during his sophomore and junior seasons. He has a career average of 26.8 yards per return. If the Giants draft him, the experience could earn him an expanded role as a rookie, considering the team returned kicks for the seventh-fewest yards last season (555).

KENNY MCINTOSH ONE-HANDED pic.twitter.com/CL1mhCt0iT
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 6, 2021

Sean Tucker, Syracuse

Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 209

Tucker couldn't participate in the NFL Scouting Combine or the Orange's Pro Day due to a medical issue but received clearance last week to host a private workout. Four teams attended Tucker's makeshift Pro Day, including the Giants, where he matched Saquon Barkley's 29 225-pound bench press reps.

While Tucker is an undersized tailback, he has one of the strongest work ethics in the class, and his efforts off the field have contributed to his success on it. In 2021, he rushed for a school-record 1,496 yards, earning him second-team Associated Press All-American honors and a first-team All-ACC selection.

Across 33 career games at Syracuse, Tucker recorded 3,804 total yards (third-most in program history) and 31 touchdowns.

Last week, Kiper shared his favorite draft prospects and named Tucker his choice among running backs, despite ranking him outside his top 10 players at the position. Kiper believes Tucker will be a Day 3 selection, though it's hard to predict which round given his health concerns.