2016 NFL Draft: Could New York Giants fall in love with RB Kenneth Dixon?

The absence of Odell Beckham jr. in the New York Giants' game against the Carolina Panthers proved just how badly the offense needs more weapons. "Weapons", however, can mean a variety of things and positions. It could be a dynamic tight end, it could be another big-play receiver, or it could be a running back.

Kenneth Dixon of Louisiana Tech is a player who will probably be more popular with coaches than scouts or fans, at least until he takes the field on Sundays, so could he be a guy that catches new head coach Ben McAdoo's eye?

Measurables

Height: 5-10

Weight: 215

40 Time: 4.54 (projected)

Pros

• 3-down running back. Already a good receiver -- solid routes and hands -- and pass protector.
• Patient runner with good vision. He will wait to set up his blocks.
• Quick feet and balance to make would-be tacklers miss, enough power to break arm tackles
• Very productive at Louisiana Tech. 5,452 yards and 87 total touchdowns in four years
• Durable, played 47 games in four years.

Cons

• Doesn't excel at any one thing. Not an elite athlete, nor a punishing runner.
• Production comes with a lot of touches, over 900 in his four years.
• Frame appears maxed out.

Prospect Video

Big Board Rankings

Mocking The Draft - 66th overall

CBS - 62nd overall

Draft Tek - 91st overall

Does He Fit with The Giants?

Whether or not Dixon fits with the Giants depends a lot on how they feel about Rashad Jennings and Orleans Darkwa. Dixon is a similar "Jack of all trades" running back who can do everything well, but doesn't really excel at anything. He is a good receiver, but Vereen is better. He can break tackles, but Andre Williams is much more powerful.

However, if the Giants are leery of Jennings' age and Darkwa coming off the field seemingly every game with a different ding, then Dixon (or a running back like him) could be on the Giants' radar.

Final Thoughts

Kenneth Dixon is a player who caught my eye roughly a year ago. At the time the tape was (more) limited on him, but I figured then that he would be a running back that an NFL coach could easily fall in love with. He might not have the athletic traits that get scouts drooling, but he is just a Football Player.

His upside is probably fairly limited, but he offers a lot to an offense as a player who does enough of everything that he never has to come off the field. He can tote the rock on one down, keep the chains moving with a check-down reception the next down, then keep your QB upright as he takes a shot down the field on another down.

That is a rare skillset for a running back to have right out of college.