There is no debate that New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley will be the primary starter this upcoming season, but the future is undetermined and open for the taking. The Giants didn’t draft a running back in his past draft class but rather looked toward free agency to find a young spark plug.
General manager Joe Schoen brought in former Texas A&M and Florida State running back Jashaun Corbin to compete for a roster spot.
Corbin, who was undrafted, stands at 6-foot and 215 pounds, coming off of a successful season with Florida State in the ACC.
Corbin told Dan Duggan of The Athletic that going undrafted added a chip to his shoulder:
“Obviously, I was a little hurt not getting drafted, but honestly, it’s a blessing in disguise,” Corbin said. “It just adds another chip on my shoulder. I just feel like that’s the story of my life, having to prove people wrong and prove the people who believe in me right. I’m just thankful they gave me the opportunity and I’ve got to go make the most of it.”
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What does Jashaun Corbin bring to the Giants?
Corbin has constantly faced adversity throughout his career, transitioning to a new school and missing the majority of the 2019 season with a hamstring injury. NFL.com coined him as a priority free agent after the draft, consisting of good size and vision.
Plenty of teams have discovered talented players during the undrafted free agent portion of the season, but Corbin comes with a few concerns. For starters, he doesn’t have above average burst as a runner and can’t change direction on a dime like some of the Giants’ top playmakers. However, his vision allows him to pick the right gaps and churn out yards. He also runs physically, which gives him an extra edge when getting to the second level.
Last season, Corbin posted 887 rushing yards, including seven touchdowns. He also picked up 144 receiving yards on 25 receptions for one score. Athletically, he’s a bit underwhelming but has the right mentality to compete for a back-end roster spot as a rookie. I wouldn’t be surprised if he landed on the practice squad for the 2022 season, fighting his way to a reserve role down the line.
Getting any value from an undrafted free agent is a huge bonus.