The New York Giants nearly watched one of their young running backs land with a longtime NFC rival a year ago.
Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that the San Francisco 49ers were ready to take Cam Skattebo in the 2025 NFL draft. Saleh was San Francisco’s defensive coordinator at the time.
“We were actually about to draft him in San Francisco. Kyle (Shanahan) loved him, and he ended up getting taken right before we were picking,” Saleh said.
The Giants selected Skattebo with the 105th overall pick in the fourth round. San Francisco was on the clock shortly afterward.
Skattebo arrived from Arizona State after a senior season that put him on the national map. He carried 293 times for 1,711 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes for 605 yards and three scores.
That added up to 2,316 yards from scrimmage and 24 total touchdowns. He finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and helped the Sun Devils reach the College Football Playoff.
The 5-foot-10, 219-pound back built his reputation as a compact, physical runner with strong contact balance. He posted a 39.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-3 broad jump at the NFL scouting combine. He ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.
Skattebo grew up in Rio Linda, California, about two hours from Levi’s Stadium. That background made San Francisco a logical landing spot on paper. The 49ers instead used nearby picks on other positions.
The Giants now lean on him more than they expected. Quarterback Jaxson Dart, taken in the first round of the same draft, is out for the season after knee surgery.
New York hosts Saleh’s Titans on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The game is scheduled for Sept. 27.
A power running game becomes the clearest path without Dart. Skattebo’s style fits that approach. He is built to work between the tackles and finish runs forward.
Help on the edges could still matter. Left tackle Andrew Thomas missed time with a groin injury suffered against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. Wide receiver Malik Nabers dealt with a shoulder issue in the same game.
Both players practiced fully Wednesday. Coach John Harbaugh said they should “be good” for Week 3.
Thomas is an All-Pro tackle whose presence changes how defenses load the box. Nabers gives the Giants a downfield threat that can keep extra defenders from crowding the line.
The Giants and 49ers have met in high-stakes games before. New York beat San Francisco in the 1990 NFC Championship Game and again in the 2011 conference title game. The 49ers answered with a 2002 playoff comeback from a 38-14 deficit.
Those games sit in the background now. The immediate issue is whether Skattebo can carry a heavier load against Tennessee.
Through the early part of this season he has been one of the Giants’ healthiest skill players. That status raised his value after Dart’s injury.
Saleh’s comments put a number on how close the draft result came to changing. The Giants took Skattebo just a few picks before San Francisco’s next selection.
College production remains the clearest measure of what teams saw. In 2024 he averaged 5.8 yards per carry and more than 131 rushing yards per game. He also completed a touchdown pass in the Peach Bowl.
The Giants used a mid-round pick on a back who already had a full workload in a Power conference. That profile is why Shanahan’s interest stood out. San Francisco has long built its offense around zone runs and versatile backs.
New York is asking for something more direct this week. With Dart sidelined, the offense is expected to lean on the line, Thomas’ return, and Skattebo’s ability to stay on schedule.
The Titans will try to stack the box. The Giants will try to keep enough passing threat on the field to prevent that.
Sunday will show whether last year’s draft timing still matters on the field.
