The sense of urgency to add a veteran backup running back isn’t what it once was with the Giants.
Gone are the days of pouncing on Jonathan Stewart (2018) or Devontae Booker (2021) with multiyear overpays at the start of free agency. In their place is Monday’s low-risk signing of Matt Breida.
Unlike Stewart, Booker actually was effective (593 yards) backing up and filling in for an injured Saquon Barkley, but he was released this month to save $2.1 million against a tight salary cap. Breida, who has averaged 4.9 yards per carry and 8.8 yards per catch with seven career touchdowns, stepped into the void.
“Every year I’ve got something to prove,” Breida, 27, said from inside team headquarters. “I came into this league undrafted. I guarantee a lot of people didn’t think I would be on Year 6 right now, so I’m going to keep going for as long as I’m able to play and allowed to play.”
Barkley’s best season — when he led the NFL with 2,028 yards from scrimmage as a rookie in 2018 — also was Breida’s best season. Breida reached 1,075 yards from scrimmage for the 49ers in the first 13 of his now 19 career starts.
The Giants are signing former Bills running back Matt Breida. NurPhoto via Getty Images“I definitely believe he’s one of the top running backs in the NFL,” Breida said of Barkley. “Whatever they want me to do here with my role, I’m just going to leave that up to the coaches. I’m just here to help the team get better. I know Saquon is going to help me get better. I’m going to help him get better.”
Breida’s role was minimized the last two seasons with the Dolphins and Bills, but he made enough of an impression as a third-stringer on new Giants head coach Brian Daboll (as Bills offensive coordinator) to earn a spot in this rebuild. Breida’s addition is not expected to prevent the Giants from addressing running back in the middle or late rounds of the draft.
“Coach Daboll is a great person and he’s a great coach, so that was big in the decision in why I chose to come here,” Breida said. “I already had my mind made up before this [visit], so I knew I was going to go.”
Giants quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney had a front-row view Monday behind Kenny Pickett as the quarterback went through Pittsburgh’s Pro Day.
The Giants’ No. 5 pick in the draft became a little more valuable Monday after the Falcons traded Matt Ryan to the Colts and set up a situation where two rivals are in the market for a young quarterback. The Falcons might want to trade up from No. 8 ahead of the Panthers at No. 6 to secure their top option. General managers Scott Fitterer of Carolina and Terry Fontenot of Atlanta both were on hand.
The Giants officially re-signed long snapper Casey Kreiter, who has handled the duties without a hiccup the last two seasons.
Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who said goodbye to Giants fans Sunday in a social media post, agreed to terms on a one-year deal to return home to Georgia and play for the Falcons.
