The New York Giants made somewhat of a bold move when they selected running back Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Fortunately, he seems to already understand his role in the offense.
Barkley's explosiveness is part of what made him such an elite prospect. However, according to ESPN's Hallie Grossman, he wants to be known as a powerful yet elusive runner:
Defenders were forced to pick their poison when it came to tackling Barkley. It is clear he wants to impose his will at the next level. At 6'0″, 230 pounds, Barkley is well-equipped to handle the rigors of playing the position.
It goes without saying that New York made quite the investment. Barkley is planning to give them some immediate return by taking on a central role within the offense. His versatile skill set makes him poised to become the team's three-down back as soon as the 2018 NFL season starts.
Although hurdling tacklers is never recommended, it is not something he should rule out completely. Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley has found a perfect balance of when to do it at the right time. Barkley's explosiveness is the reason the Giants selected him so early on. There is no sense in trying to dial it back before his career even starts.