The Giants have signed RB Shaun Draughn, who spent the last two seasons in San Francisco:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today added a veteran running back with multiple skills when they signed veteran Shaun Draughn.
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The 5-11, 205-pound Draughn has played for six teams in six years, most recently the San Francisco 49ers. He has played in 57 games with seven starts, and his career totals include 225 carries for 723 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 80 receptions for 597 yards and two scores. He also has 17 special teams tackles.
"I think my versatility has helped keep me in the league," Draughn said. "(The Giants) talked about my versatility. I don't know exactly how they'll use me. I'm sure they'll use me to the strengths that I have."
The 49ers were 2-14 last season. Draughn is eager to join a team that reached the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
"I haven't been to a playoff game in seven years," he said. "That's definitely something I'm looking forward to doing."
In 2016, Draughn played in all 16 games with one start for the 49ers. He scored a career-high four touchdowns while rushing for 194 yards on 74 carries. Draughn also had career-best totals of 29 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
The Giants hope to significantly improve a running attack that ranked 29th in the NFL last season with an average of 88.3 yards a game. Their leading rusher, Rashad Jennings, was released on February 13. Draughn joins a backfield that includes second-year pro Paul Perkins, the team's top returning rusher, Orleans Darkwa and Shane Vereen.
Draughn entered the NFL in 2011 as an undrafted rookie free agent with Washington, from the University of North Carolina. He was released at the end of training camp and signed a month later to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad. Draughn stayed with the Chiefs for two seasons and in 2012 he rushed for 233 yards and two touchdowns and caught 24 passes.
Kansas City released him on Aug. 31, 2013. He played three games for Baltimore that year, and in 2014 Draughn was with Chicago, San Diego and Cleveland. He was signed by San Francisco on Nov. 2, 2015, two weeks after being released by the Bears.
Last season, Draughn played primarily as a reserve before starting the season finale vs. Seattle on Jan. 1, when he ran for 41 yards and two touchdowns, and caught four passes for another 68 yards.
Because he has been with so many teams, Draughn is accustomed to learning a new offense.
"Everybody pretty much runs the same things, it's just a matter of getting the terminology down," he said.
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Draughn began his collegiate career as a safety before converting to running back as a sophomore. He played in 44 games at North Carolina, where he rushed for 2,070 yards and 10 touchdowns on 451 carries, and caught 50 passes for 268 yards and a score.
"I wanted to be converted," Draughn said. "I played safety in high school, but running back was my primary position. Going into college, the running backs coach wanted me to play running back, the DBs coach wanted me to play safety. I went to the defensive side of the ball, because it gave me an opportunity to play earlier. But I wasn't good at it. I told coach Butch Davis in spring ball – in '08, I think it was – 'I think I can help the team better at running back.' And that's what I did. I love it."
Photos of Giants RB Shaun Draughn during his time with the 49ers
