The New York Giants' selection of former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick in this year's draft immediately puts him in line to become the starter from the get-go. Additionally, it likely leaves veteran running back Jonathan Stewart in a secondary role behind him for the 2018 campaign.
With that in mind, Stewart has quickly come out stating that he's willing to take on the role of a mentor to the 21-year-old, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
“Yeah, I think at some point, whether you’re a rookie, whether you’re an 11-year guy, there’s always time to learn, there’s always time to share advice and wisdom that’s gained through experience,’’ Stewart said last week. “There’s younger guys that might experience things different than I have, so there’s always room for me to learn, too.’’
The fact that Stewart is willing to take a bit of a step back to help Barkley could bode well for the Penn State product quickly acclimating to the next level. Stewart has plenty to offer given that he has spent a decade in the league either starting or splitting carries with the Carolina Panthers.
This also shows the type of professional Stewart is, as he likely originally signed a two-year, $6.8 million deal with the Giants on the premise that he would start. However, the selection of Barkley changes that completely/
Beyond that, this might finally provide the Giants with the formidable running game that they have lacked for years, with a potential rising star along with a proven veteran leading the charge.
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