The 2018 NFL Draft saw both New York football teams pick in the top three. Both teams entered the draft needing help at many positions but especially quarterback. After the third pick, one team got their franchise quarterback and one did not.
The first mistake of the draft was made when the Cleveland Browns took Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick. The New York Giants were up second and had a choice between two players. They elected to go with Saquon Barkley which allowed Sam Darnold to fall right into the laps of the New York Jets.
New York Saviors Through Two Seasons
Both teams fell in love with their first-round picks after their first season. Barkley finished with 1,307 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns. He added 91 catches on the season behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Darnold threw for 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions as a rookie. Most of his turnovers came early in the season and he finished strong. During their second season, both Barkley and Darnold were forced to miss time.
Darnold missed three games with mono and Barkley missed the same amount of time with a high ankle sprain. Both players have had very different sophomore campaigns. Darnold has been inconsistent but his good has outweighed the bad. The Jets' and their fans believe that Darnold is a franchise player and they are comfortable with the spot they are in, minus the head coach. For the Giants, it is a different situation.
Skill position players cannot win games on their own. You would think that the Giants would have learned after they selected Odell Beckham Jr. and suffered a lot of losing despite his individual talent. It is the same at running back. Barkley needs a strong offensive line, a group of blocking tight ends, and a capable quarterback to succeed. He also needs pressure taken off at some points so he does not have to finish with 352 touches every season.
What if the Giants Took Darnold?
When the Giants were on the clock, it was clear that they were going to go with either Barkley or Darnold. When Roger Goodell announced that the Giants went with the Penn State product, fans rejoiced but the selection was head-scratching. This is not to knock Barkley or his talent, it is a knock on the position.
The days of taking a running back that high are over. To win in this league, teams need to have their quarterback in place. Fast forward to the 2019 NFL Draft where the Giants took Daniel Jones No. 6 overall. They put all their eggs in a quarterback from Duke when they could have had Darnold. Now, if you are someone who believes in Jones and thinks Darnold is overhyped, then you are happy with the way things turned out. After watching both in action, it is hard to take that side.
What about on the defensive side of the ball? The Giants have one of the worst defenses in football. They chose to go with a quarterback sixth overall in 2019 when names like Josh Allen and Ed Oliver on the board. So taking Darnold would give them a better player under center than Jones, and would have allowed them to take a pass rusher this year. The decisions do not add up.
Barkley believers will argue that the situation above means that they would not have a running back. That is a position that is replaceable. Look at the running back situation on winning teams. Many of them give snaps to multiple backs including the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, and San Francisco 49ers. What do those teams have? A franchise quarterback with a strong defense.
Again, if you are a believer in Jones and a believer that Dave Gettleman can turn the team around then you are happy with their situation at the moment. And more power to you. This is not to say that the Giants would be a playoff team with Darnold. This is saying that they would have a better quarterback with a quality piece on defense. Now, they are stuck with another talented individual player in Barkley and nothing to show for it. There is plenty of work that needs to be done for the Giants.
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