With the draft four days away, the prospect of Saquon Barkley becoming the first running back to go off the board in the top two since Reggie Bush has steadily increased. The Giants/Barkley noise has intensified.
The Giants hold their highest pick since 1981, when they chose Lawrence Taylor at No. 2, and have a quarterback who is set to play his age-37 season in 2018. With all but one QB likely to be available to Big Blue at No. 2, it could be argued — as some in the organization appear to have done — the Giants should not forgo a chance to add a possible Eli Manning successor only to draft this year’s best running back prospect. They have not held a top-five selection since the Manning trade 14 years ago, so it can’t be considered a lock they’ll have this opportunity again soon.
New York also has needs on its offensive line, at cornerback and on its front seven, putting a trade-down decision in play. A Bradley Chubb pick would go about meeting need and value if he is the No. 2 choice, but Barkley may well be the No. 1 prospect on the Giants’ board. And Dave Gettleman, who held key decision-making positions when the Giants used a No. 7 pick on Ron Dayne (2000) and a No. 32 choice on David Wilson (2012), does not look to believe running backs aren’t the commodities they used to be. (At least, he’s not saying so publicly.)
The Giants also need a better answer in the backfield. Jonathan Stewart is nearing the end of his career, and Paul Perkins and Wayne Gallman may be backup types. As a player who’s been rated by some high-profile draft experts as being a better prospect than Ezekiel Elliott, Barkley would surely take care of that and join an offense that would have Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram (and if Dez Bryant gets his way, Dez Bryant) at the skill spots. The Penn State superstar being in that mix could change the equation for the Giants, who ranked 26th in rushing offense and scored just 15.4 points per game (31st in the league) last season. Elliott sure made an impact for the Cowboys as a rookie, but he had a much better offensive line in front of him.
The Jaguars invested a No. 4 overall pick in Leonard Fournette a year ago. He’s Jacksonville’s unquestioned starter going forward, but the Jags saw third-rounders Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt have superior rookie seasons. Devonta Freeman was just a fourth-round pick, and Jordan Howard went in the 2016 fifth round. Le’Veon Bell, a second-rounder, is gunning for a No. 1 receiver-level contract And this running back class is viewed as another strong group, and intriguing ball-carriers will be available on Day 2.
ESPN’s Todd McShay was definitive in his stance that Barkley will be a Giant, and the franchise’s interest in him appears to be genuine. PFR readers overwhelmingly believe that’s what will happen. The Giants had one of the 2000s’ best backfield options in Tiki Barber, but they won a Super Bowl the year after he retired and won another four years later when they ranked last in rushing. This franchise has deployed successful backs since Barber, in Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, but Big Blue has shown it hasn’t necessarily needed a top-tier back to thrive in the recent past.
So, should the Giants use their top offseason resource to draft Barkley? Is he worth the team bypassing a possible long-term quarterback option when the running back position has seen its value take numerous hits this century? Or would the Giants be reaching if they took a quarterback who might not play until 2020 over a well-reviewed running back who could have an Elliott-esque effect on their offense this season? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!
I think the answer is if they want to win now you raked Barkley. Giants have had not running game and little pass protection for a non scrambling QB. Not a good combo. Barley immediately balances Offense.
You know, looking at the QB panic in this draft, If the Browns take Barkley at 1, then Chubb at 4, they get the 2 projected/potential Hall of Famers in the draft. Then with the CERTAIN QB picks being made, Denver is still picking when there will be 1 of the big 4 QB’s left and they need an RB.
With Barkley off the board, Cleveland could offer Denver Carlos Hyde plus their 2nd rd & next years 1st rd pick (which would be a killing for Denver) and STILL draft either Rosen or Allen, whoever would be left.
THATS a HUGE win-win for both teams…and no one can stop it if Denver agrees.
(Cleveland could STEAL this draft.)
Carlos Hyde isn’t worth much as far as draft compensation goes. He’s basically a toss-in. You can’t assume that the Browns pick will be a Top-5, Top-10, or even Top-15 pick next year. There’s too much uncertainty. Say you grant the Browns an 8-8 season, that puts them at 15th in this year’s draft (Cardinals pick). #15 (2019), #33, and #60 1930 value for the 5th overall 1700 value. That would be the ask from Denver. By trading out, Denver is missing out on a potential Pro Bowl Guard/DB in Nelson/Fitzpatrick.
Lol…
A trade with Buffalo makes too much sense. No running back would be successful behind that line, it’s bad. The Giants have a lot of holes on defense also. You can get a good back in the later rounds. Sony Michel in the second would be a good pick up.
They can trade down, and maybe find a trade for Beckham and stockpile picks.
I agree. Barkley is a stud, and I know I’m in the minority here, but I see him falling out of the top 4. I believe he goes between 5 and 7 just due to the QBs and the fact that I believe the browns will go QB at 1 and Chubb at 4.
AAAAND…I’m holding out the one in a hundred shot that he gets to my Bucs at 7.
The 3-team deal with the Giants, Broncos/Colts/Bucs, and Bills makes a lot of sense. All three teams have multiple holes to fill. Giants need RB, OL, Future QB. Broncos need DB, OL, Future QB. Colts need Edge, OL, RB. Bucs need RB, 2 DBs.
Giants would still be able to draft Chubb, Barkley, or Nelson at 5 or 6. 7th is the worst case scenario – all 3 are gone and they end up taking Rosen 7th. That would be a big letdown for the fanbase tbh. They’d then come back and draft OL at 22 and RB at 34.
Giants should take cudd
The way I look at it is that the Giants haven’t extended Odell, and we have a chance at a RB who could add so much to the offense. If Odell is still without a contract by the draft which is likely will happen, they need to take Saquon, because there is a chance that we can’t extend Odell which makes him a free agent next year and if we still want a top tier playmaker we would still have Barkley. Plus if we get Barkley there is the slightest chance that Odell might say I want to stay here and win with the team and except taking less money than he wants.
Now for my QB rant, why should we be taking a QB if we haven’t even seen Davis Webb play a full game yet. Last year we took him thinking he would and could be the Giants future QB when Eli is gone. Yes this draft is a great draft for QB needy teams, but if the giants are willing to say if Eli could be here another 2-3 years, are we willing to take a QB who is gonna sit behind him for at least a year, with the highest pick we’ve had since we took LT. Plus I don’t think you acquire a MLB and see yourself trying to tank next year Ogletree is a top tier LB when he is healthy, and that fills a need at that position. Most teams don’t add top tier players if they are looking to the future. The Rams selected Jared Goff knowing that he was gonna play behind Case Keenum until they felt he was ready, they haven’t added the top tier guys until last year and now. If the Giants were really looking to the future they wouldn’t have added Ogletree. Yes there are some other perspectives that could tell us otherwise, trading JPP and cutting B Marsh. But they also added an LT who is 30. So the Giants have done some things to lean both ways as to if they’re taking Barkley or if they’re taking a QB, but I really think that they are taking Barkley if he is still there. Which he most likely will be.
People say guard at 2 is to high Nelson to me is the only player they should even look at. All this Eli is 37 and isn’t mobile anymore is BS he has never been mobile he just had protection.
If the Giants truly believe Eli still has some left in the tank to add another SB ring to the Eli Era,(which i believe is a two-year window) and the Giants are serious about being a contending team, without a doubt you pick Saquon Barkley.
The defense will have to pick their poison with our talented play makers and the new running game the giants add with Barkley helps Eli A LOT.
P.S. – if you want a HOF player, Saquon has the best chance.
If not Barkley, next best player is Chubb. Don’t get me wrong, Chubb is a monster and i mean a MONSTER!! But why trade jpp(an offer Gettleman “couldn’t refuse”)for a 3rd round pick#69 and swapping 4ths (giants actually move back from #102 to #108) for a player to take his place when JPP was doing better than any average player. Your just adding more holes to fill. Chubb would just be a wasted pick@2 for we don’t need him. Yes he would help but i’d rather see the giants draft a future franchise QB @2 than Chubb.
Lastly, if we were to trade back, id only go as far as the Bronco’s pick to stay in the top 5. Why? Because Chubb could still be their (unlikely if the Giants picked Barkley@2) but since we traded back in this scenario, and Browns go QB @1. Saquon or Chubb probably goes @4 (either way one of them fall to us at 5). Also Quinton Nelson will 100% be on the board and we could only benefit on trading back when drafting these two players. Why pick Nelson or Chubb @ 2 when they will be on the board @5. We collect more picks and draft the same player 3 spots back because teams are desperate for a QB.
Just my opinion DONT@me