New York Giants select UCLA’s Paul Perkins with 149th pick in NFL draft
The Giants’ committee approach in the backfield last season was a big reason why they finished eighth-worst in rushing yards and sixth-worst in rushing touchdowns last season. Only when they handed the reins to Rashad Jennings in the final month of the season did a Giants back finally have a 100-yard game. So by drafting UCLA’s Paul Perkins in the fifth round, the Giants could be in position to eliminate the committee approach. Perkins is a slippery running back who regularly makes highlight-reel cuts and fights for extra yards, and while he doesn’t have the size of a three-down back, his elusiveness and vision may be enough to earn him a prominent role in the Giants’ backfield.
The New York Giants selected UCLA running back Paul Perkins with the 10th pick in the fifth round of the NFL draft, the 149th pick overall.
Perkins left UCLA with a season of eligibility remaining.
The 5-foot-10, 208-pound Perkins rushed for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. As a sophomore he rushed for 1,575 yards, leading the Pac-12 Conference, and nine touchdowns.
See the most-read stories in Sports this hour>>
Perkins is the fourth Bruins player off the board.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch one pick before Perkins, 148th overall.
Defensive lineman Kenny Clark was a first-round selection and linebacker Myles Jack was picked in the second round.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
