New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley played under three different offensive coordinators over his opening four seasons in the NFL. Among them, only Mike Shula placed a high emphasis on making him a focal point in the passing game, as he caught a combined 143 passes in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

The Giants are set to run a new system on offense under head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. Among their goals for the 2022 campaign may be to have Barkley emerge as a force in the passing attack on a game-by-game basis.

During a press conference over the Giants’ mandatory minicamp, Daboll touched on the decision to occasionally roll out Barkley as a wideout during offensive drills. The first-year Giants head coach did not go on to reveal just how he aims to utilize the versatile running back on offense but rather noted that he is looking to exploit the potential of his players.

“I think any time you have a good player, if you're an offensive play-caller scheming, you find a way to get the best players the football,” Daboll said. “Targets. Sometimes as a decoy, touches in the run game. Guys that can produce and make yards with the ball their hand, as a play caller, you like those guys”

On Barkley’s part, he is ready for whatever Daboll and Kafka have planned for him later this year. In the big picture, he aspires to help elevate the Giants' production on offense.

“I'm not really expecting anything,” Barkley said. “It's more of a passing camp, so I'm probably moving around a little bit more.

“But just in case if that is the game plan or the goal for me this year, to go out there and catch the ball a little bit more, I've got to be ready for it. … I feel like the more versatile you can be as a player, the more helpful you can be to your team, and I want to help this team win games.”

Next up for the Giants will be the start of their training camp schedule in July. By then, there may be a clearer picture as to how Daboll plans to use Barkley in the upcoming season.