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There was plenty of speculation regarding what the New York Giants planned to do with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. They decided to go against the grain of recent draft strategies by taking Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.
The addition of Barkley gives the Giants a viable workhorse in the backfield which is something they have not had in quite a while. However, according to John Schmeelk of the team's official website, New York is most looking forward to utilizing him in the passing game.
According to Pro Football Focus, his 1.9 yards gained per pass route was tops in the running back class. Last year alone, he had catches for 43, 46, 85, 36, 42, 20, 21 and 24 yards. He is not just a running back you dump the ball to out of the backfield on screens and check downs. He can be split outside and run receiver routes, or wheel routes out of the backfield to make big plays down the field. His pass protection is also strong enough to keep him on the field on third downs. I don’t think Saquon Barkley is a guy that will pound it between the tackles 25 times a game. I think he is a much better weapon getting 18 carries and another 7-8 catches. He is a weapon that will drive defensive coordinators batty, especially on third down, the most important down in football.
It goes without saying that Barkley was one f the most electrifying runners in college football. However, it is clear that his playmaking prowess translates well to the passing game. Barkley hauled in 54 receptions for 632 yards, and three touchdowns last season. That said, it makes sense that the Giants would want to take advantage of all that he brings to the table after taking him so high.
Although Barkley is more than capable of handling a more than 20 carries a game, it appears that New York is looking to get him some of those touches out of the backfield. Teams like the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers have had great success taking a similar approach with versatile running backs like Todd Gurley and Le'Veon Bell. Not only does this reduce the wear and tear of continuously running up the middle, but it also gives them more space to work in the open field.
