A Closer Look at RB Audric Estimé: The Giants' Potential Game-Changer

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In the swirling speculation over Saquon Barkley's future with the New York Giants, a beacon of potential shines brightly within the organization—RB Audric Estimé. Regardless of the outcome with Barkley, it's increasingly clear that the Giants are poised to bolster their running backs’ room, signaling their commitment to a dynamic and versatile ground game.

Within this context, Estimé stands out as a potential game-changer for the team, bringing a unique blend of power, agility, and tenacity that could redefine the Giants' offensive strategy in the coming seasons.

Audric Estimé, RB

Height: 5’11

Weight: 227 lbs

Class: Junior

School: Notre Dame

Stats

Estimé was a four-star recruit once and came from St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey. In the 2021 recruiting cycle, he was ranked as the fourth running back from New Jersey and the sixteenth overall. Initially committing to Michigan State, Estimé decided to switch allegiance and don the Fighting Irish uniform at Notre Dame. Following the departure of former Golden Domer Kyren Williams to the NFL, Estimé saw a significant increase in his role within the team.

Over his college career, he boasted an impressive average of 6.2 yards per carry and forced 106 total missed tackles. In 2023, Estimé exemplified his resilience and strength on the field with an average of 4.27 yards after contact, skillfully navigating gap/power and zone rushing concepts.

His outstanding performance did not go unnoticed, as Estimé was named a Second-Team All-American by the AP, USA Today, CBS Sports, and The Sporting News. He also earned the title of the 2023 Notre Dame Offensive Player of the Year. With his physical and compact playing style, accompanied by a bruising rush that demands attention on the field, Estimé represents a potentially perfect fit for the New York Giants—especially if they decide to part ways with star running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants would need his attributes and skills to maintain a competitive edge, impacting the New York Giants football odds positively in the coming seasons.

Strengths

• Physical Build: Estimé has a great body. He has a chiseled, yoked-up frame with a big chest and thick legs, which gives him a lot of power and stamina on the field.
• Mobility and Agility: Despite his size, he possesses a good size/mobility combination in tight spaces, along with solid overall athletic abilities featuring adequate change of direction skills and agility.
• Quickness and Explosiveness: His quickness and explosiveness are noteworthy, with a build-up speed that, while gradual, showcases his potential to gain momentum and overpower opponents.
• Contact Balance and Strength: His ability to run low behind his pads grants him excellent contact balance, enabling him to break through arm tackles and poor tackle attempts effortlessly. His stiff arm is particularly impressive, embodying the essence of a traditional power back.
• Vision and Intelligence: Estimé exhibits very good vision, patience, and tempo when approaching the line of scrimmage (LOS). He utilizes the LOS effectively to set up blocks and eliminate defenders from cutback lanes.
• Versatility in Play: A smart and versatile running back, he follows blocks adeptly in power/gap and counter situations, displaying a great feel for angling his body at the LOS to minimize contact and a keen sense of timing to evade backside pursuit defenders.
• Receiving Capabilities: Though not often asked to receive, Estimé has shown comfort and effectiveness in passing situations, indicating his potential versatility in the passing game.
• Pass Protection: His physical nature extends to pass protection, where his good eyes and understanding of blocking schemes suggest he won’t be a liability at the next level.
• Adaptability: Capable of thriving in any style of offense and excelling in short-yardage situations thanks to his low leverage and physical running style.

Estimé, at just 20 years old, encompasses all the attributes of a dynamic running back who could significantly impact the New York Giants' offensive game plan, offering them a versatile and powerful option in their backfield.

Weaknesses

While Audric Estimé's power and agility on the field are undeniable strengths, some areas of his game invite scrutiny and could pose challenges at the next level. One such concern revolves around his speed. Estimé has showcased his ability to break away in the open field, yet legitimate questions exist regarding his consistent deep speed. Unlike many running backs who can burst off the line, Estimé's speed accumulation is more gradual, akin to a locomotive gaining steam. The upcoming NFL combine will be a critical moment for scouts to assess whether he possesses sufficient speed to excel professionally.

Another aspect of Estimé's game that raises eyebrows is his limited involvement in the passing game. Despite having hands that appear reliable when he is targeted, Estimé only logged 26 career receptions at Notre Dame. This limited involvement has resulted in a narrow route tree, providing little evidence of his capability to be a versatile pass-catching back at the NFL level. This factor is crucial as the modern NFL increasingly favors running backs who can contribute significantly to aerial attacks.

Lastly, Estimé benefited from running behind one of college football's more accomplished offensive lines. While this shouldn't detract from his achievements, it raises questions about how his transition to the NFL will fare behind less dominant lines and whether his raw power and vision can compensate for differing levels of blocking proficiency.