“New York Giants Enhance Backfield Depth with Pick of Purdue’s 24-Year-Old Star in 2024 NFL Draft’s Fifth Round”
The New York Giants strengthened their backfield in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by picking Purdue running back Tyrone Tracy as the No. 166 overall selection.
Tracy joins the Giants’ post-Saquon Barkley backfield alongside Devin Singletary, as New York aims to establish a running back by committee strategy.
Tracy, an athletic rusher who showcased his speed with a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 209 pounds. His impressive performance earned him a relative athletic score (RAS) of 9.78, ranking 42nd out of 1,903 running backs from 1987 to 2024.
During the 2023 season, Tracy rushed for 716 yards and eight touchdowns, earning a stellar 90.5 Pro Football Focus rushing grade that placed him third among Big Ten running backs. His career PFF Elusive Rating of 133.80 ranked 10th among running backs drafted since 2018 in the fifth round or earlier, with Tracy forcing 46 missed tackles in 2023 alone.
Formerly a wide receiver turned running back, Tracy offers significant upside potential at the NFL level. He boasts an explosive run rate of 23.1%, the best in this year’s draft class and ranking in the 97th percentile among all prospects since 2018. Tracy also excels in breaking tackles, tying with top running backs in the PFF college era for missed tackles forced per attempt (0.39).
Despite his transition to running back in his fifth collegiate season, Tracy has a limited number of plays in the backfield, totaling just 146 carries throughout his college career.
Tracy’s background as a wide receiver could add a new dimension to the Giants’ backfield, complementing the ground-and-pound style of starting running back Devin Singletary. Tracy’s versatility makes him a valuable asset in third-down and receiving situations, potentially serving as a dynamic playmaker for the Giants.
With the Giants planning a running-back-by-committee approach for the upcoming season, Tracy is expected to play a distinct role, utilizing his explosive speed, receiving skills, and ability to break tackles to make an impact on the field.
