NFL rumors: Giants and LeGarrette Blount have mutual interest
With more running back dominoes falling early this week, the New York Giants and LeGarrette Blount may be a match.
The value of running backs on the free agent market is clearly down, due in part to a loaded draft class this year. Adrian Peterson has been humbled by the deal he’s reportedly getting from the New Orleans Saints, and the New England Patriots getting Mike Gillislee after the Buffalo Bills did not match an offer sheet means they won’t be bringing LeGarrette Blount back.
Blount had the best year of his career in 2016, with 299 carries for 1,161 yards and a league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns. But the Patriots seemed unwilling to budge from their reported standing offer for a 30-year old running back (31 on Dec. 5) who brings nothing as a pass catcher. So New England moved on to the younger Gillislee.
Blount is running out of potential landing spots, but one team may be moving to the forefront now.
The next running back domino to watch: LeGarrette Blount and the #Giants. There is mutual interest there. A potential match before the draft
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2017
The Giants had the league’s 29th-ranked rushing attack last season (88.3 yards per game), with a league-low six rushing touchdowns. They also released leading rusher Rashad Jennings early in the offseason, further creating a potential need at running back. Peterson publicly expressed interest in signing with the Giants , but that interest never seemed to be mutual.
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Blount would be a nice fit for the Giants, in a similar role he has filled with the Patriots. Second-year man Paul Perkins would still be the theoretical lead back, with Shane Vereen and free agent signing Shaun Draughn also in the mix right now. If Blount is signed, Draughn looks like the obvious odd-man out between now and Week 1.