Good news: The New York Giants best player is back
Saquon Barkley has been the New York Giants’ go-to running back as long as he has been healthy.
for a valid purpose. Barkley is a dual threat who doesn’t always indicate that a run is coming or that he will be a decoy when the team takes him out of the game. Not only can Barkley play out of the backfield, but he can also line up wide, as seen by the 36 times he did so this past season (despite only getting 12 deep throws, according to Sports Info Solutions).
Despite an unreliable offensive line, Barkley ended with the 16th-most rushing yards (962) this season, which is impressive considering he has a target on his back.
Still, the incoming UFA only managed to log one 100+ rushing game, requiring 36 carries. He was able to cross the line of scrimmage with relative ease, but he wasn’t as successful as he has been in the past in getting past the second level. It seems as though he has lost the second gear he previously possessed, as his longest run of the season was 36 yards.
Joe Schoen, general manager, must strike a balance between nostalgia and commercial acumen because Barkley is still very much interested in signing a long-term contract to stay a Giant for life. Barkley isn’t the same runner he once was; this year, he’s missed a significant number of reads due to his uneven instincts. Additionally, he rarely pushes a pile in between tackles and is not as strong.
In the end, Barkley’s time as the Giants’ main player is probably done, and going ahead, the team will probably take a more committee-based approach. It remains to be seen if that signals the end of Barkley’s Giants career. If the parties are unable to come to an agreement on a contract, we think that may happen this season because we don’t see the Giants taking on another $12.3 million franchise tag in a year when there are a lot of other pressing needs.
However, if both parties are sincere with one another and with themselves, there is still enough time for it to succeed. Let’s examine the other players the Giants have in case they decide to add them to a bell cow committee once Barkley leaves.
