Saquon Barkley News

While the debate still rages over whether it ever pays to run backwards with the best heel in the draft in the modern NFL, Barkley could hardly do more to justify his position. The second overall pick in 2018 became just the third rookie to eclipse 2,000 yards (joining Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James) while running broke Reggie Bush’s rookie record in the catch. In fact, Barkley’s 91 catch tied the record for Odell Beckham Jr. by the rookie, which says nothing about all the other Giants records he set. His unreal combination of power, elusiveness and wheels (at 21.91 km / h Barkley recorded the third fastest speed of any rushing TD from 2018) makes him a major threat to the big game in the league. His seven runs of over 40 yards was the highest since Adrian Peterson had eight in 2012, and Barkley and Randy Moss are the only players in NFL history to score five 50-yard TDs in their debut campaigns. Barkley could see more stacked fronts this season, while the quarterback title potentially hit bottom (last season he faced fronts of eight on just 23 percent of his carriers), but an improved offensive line will help mitigate the impact, and the Giants still have a decent helmsman even without Beckham. The conclusion is simple: in terms of its production floor and ceiling, Barkley cannot be touched.

The second overall pick in the 2018 draft, Barkley follows in the footsteps of Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournett as defenders worth the top five selections in recent years. Barkley has the skills to justify that charge, as his remarkable career at Penn State has been interrupted by frequent appearances in prominent reels. Barkley’s speed – 4.4 40 at the combine – and the elusiveness and agility at the top of the shelf make it extremely difficult for defenders when he finds open real estate. At 6-0, 233, Barkley is a burden to be knocked down, and a strong lower body allows him to pick up quite a few feet after contact, although he sometimes struggled running between points. He also worked hard to turn into a three-down quarterback who can help as a receiver and protector of passes, something the Giants should have given priority to given their aging quarterback and shaky offensive line. The team reworked their line in the offseason, signing Nate Solder and Patrick Omameh as free agents and using second round keeper Will Hernandez, so Barkley should be able to use his moves to avoid shots two meters from the shooting line instead of two meters behind him. Expect to see a heavy load as the new center of the Giants offense.