Prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Giants and their NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, seem to have their sights set on the same rookie running back.
“Florida State @FSUFootball running back Trey Benson (4.39 speed, 906 yards, 14 touchdowns last season) is drawing heavy interest from [the] Giants, per a league source,” KPRC2 NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported on April 4. Wilson said that Benson had planned a top-30 meeting with the Cowboys, among other teams, and that he “could see [NYG] making a move to land him.”
The Cowboys’ interest in Benson was initially revealed by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on April 3. He stated that Benson would visit Dallas “today or tomorrow,” with “tomorrow” being April 4.
The Giants let Saquon Barkley test the free agent market before letting him leave, and then hired veteran Devin Singletary to take over as the team’s top running back. But with Matt Breida, last year’s backup, unsigned, the RB2 spot is still up for grabs.
Although Big Blue has expressed some interest in a seasoned backup, there is the greatest potential when a rookie and Singletary are paired. Along with 2023 UDFA Jashaun Corbin, the team still features recent draft selections Eric Gray and Gary Brightwell.
RB1 Prospect Named “Violent” Runner by Trey Benson
This rookie RB class doesn’t have a clear lead dog, like Bijan Robinson in 2023 or Breece Hall the year prior. There are several prospects who could end up being selected as the first ball carrier off the board in late April, and Benson is one of them.
Bleacher Report scout Derrik Klassen described the Florida State product as a “violent runner with all the explosive potential you want out of an RB1.”
“At 6’1″ and 223 pounds, Benson has a sturdy frame and isn’t afraid to weaponize it,” Klassen elaborated. “He is an aggressive, relentless runner who easily shakes off arm tackles and doesn’t often go down on first contact. He’s the type of runner who always falls forward and tends to require more than one tackler to shut him down.”
Benson was also referred to as a “big back” by NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zierlein, who cautioned that the rookie “might need to table his desires to be an elusive runner and adopt a more physical, decisive approach as a pro.”
Zierlein later said, “Benson has enough protection skills and some pass-catching talent [with 33 catches for 371 yards and a touchdown] to warrant a role as a complementary three-down option.”
Despite this, the scouts concurred that Benson possesses the tenacity and explosiveness necessary to succeed in the NFL, even though they felt his “vision” could use some refinement.
Benson’s collegiate experience hasn’t left him with a lot of wear and tear. During his final two seasons, he started 26 games, totaling 316 carries and 24 rushing touchdowns.
ESPN NYG source Jordan Raanan stated earlier in the offseason on March 13 that the Giants “have been looking to add another RB” and “are not looking to spend much.” Later, according to Rapoport, the front staff was at least keeping an eye on power back AJ Dillon as a potential free agent.
The NYG reporters started to sense that the team is seeking for a more physical runner to complement the shifty and quick Singletary, which makes sense, even though Dillon ultimately signed elsewhere.
Benson is exactly that, according to his scouting reports, and he’s also inexpensive because he’s probably a second- or third-round pick who is operating on a rookie cap hit.
Because of this, the Florida State product seems like a good fit for Big Blue on paper. Over the coming weeks, as the NFL draft draws near, keep an eye on him.
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