New York Giants Free Agency/Draft Preview: Can't Forget the Running Backs
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley put together another quality performance while playing on the franchise tag. He amassed 962 yards and six touchdowns despite only playing in 14 games due to injuries and having an MASH unit at the offensive line.
His 3.9 yards per carry was the second lowest of his career, largely thanks to the constant shuffling up front and inconsistency in the offense. Still, Barkley showed he could still be the bell cow he was in 2022 when he led the team to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
The other three backs left major questions about the depth behind Barkley. Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, and Eric Gray averaged under three yards per carry in 2023. Even with the offensive struggles, their numbers were far from what Barkley was able to do.
It is clear that Barkley is valuable to this offense, but they also need another option they feel as comfortable with feeding carries as they do with Barkley, and he may not be on this roster.
Personnel Recap
- Under Contract: Gary Brightwell, Jashaun Corbin, Eric Gray
- UFAs: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida
- RFAs: N/A
- ERFA: N/A
Brightwell has been a great special teams contributor for the Giants. He is tough, and he is dogged. Despite that, he has not been able to get significant carries on offense. It will be interesting to see if he is back for the final year of his contract or if the team brings on a cheaper rookie to assume his role.
Corbin has been back and forth between the active roster and the practice squad over his two seasons with the team. He has received very few offense touches and played sporadically on special teams. There is a real chance that he may not be back on the team in 2024 because there does not seem to be a legitimate role for him on this team.
Many people were excited to see what Gray could do as a changeup to Barkley when the Giants drafted him in 2023. In the end, he never eclipsed Matt Breida on the depth chart. 2024 will hopefully give Giants fans a chance to see his maturity with a second season in this offense.
Will the Giants use the franchise on Barkley again, or will they use it on Xavier McKinney? If the Giants could figure out a multi-year deal with Barkley, it would allow them to pay him his worth, make it cap-friendly, and allow their homegrown talent to continue to perform where they were drafted. Make no mistake about it: if Barkley hits free agency, he will be sought after, and do not be surprised if one or more of the suitors is in the NFC East.
Breida has been with the Giants for two seasons and has not managed to pull carries away from Barkley. He has practically an equal number of carries in both seasons, yet his yard per carry dropped from 4.1 in 2022 to 2.7 in 2023. He will be 29 years old by the time the season rolls around, and it is probably a good bet to say we've seen him in a Giants jersey for the last time.
Top 3 Questions to Be Answered
1. Should Saquon Barkley be in the Giants' plans?
The answer is absolutely yes. Everything points to it being a smart move. He’s from New York, a Giants draft pick, and he’s still really effective. People act like paying a running back is like paying a quarterback. The Cowboys paid Ezekiel Elliott more money than it would take to get a deal done with Barkley, and for all of the ridicule they received once his tenure was over, did it hurt them? No! Not having another Elliott in place once Zeke was gone hurt them. The Giants do not have to make that mistake.
2. Can Gray make a leap in season two?
This is a shot in the dark or a blind throw. We do not know what Gray can do. We do know that the coaching staff did not believe he earned legit reps in 2023. Jashaun Corbin was ahead of Gray on the depth chart and an undrafted free agent. Gray must show something early in camp if he does not want to be overlooked. I think the team will look for an upgrade both in free agency and the draft.
3. Will they draft a running back?
Expect the Giants to draft another back. It will not be on day one and possibly not on day two, but on Day 3they will be active. There will be a lot of talented backs that get shifted to day three because of the position value assigned. They will likely find an explosive, homerun-hitting rusher on that draft Saturday.
Draft or Free Agency?
The Giants need to find a way to take some of the load off Barkley so he can operate optimally. That means they should probably bring in a free agent and draft a back. They need a rough runner in free agency who knows how to pick up tough yards, and they need to draft a home run hitter. Those two mixed with Barkley would be formidable. If Barkley is gone, that could become a great 1-2 punch.
Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (0) runs for a first down during the second quarter of their game Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wisconsin beat Minnesota 28-14.
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Top Three Draft Picks to Target
Braelon Allen, Wisconsin: Allen is a massive back at 6’2” and 240 pounds. Like Derrick Henry, he is pretty fluid for a frame that size. He is also extremely dangerous once he gets to the second level. He is not the best receiver out of the backfield, but he can be relied on as a check-down option. Pairing him with Barkley could be a reincarnation of Thunder and Lightning.
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State: Davis is another big back at 6’1” and 220 pounds. Davis has been extremely productive with the back-to-back FCS Champion Jackrabbits of South Dakota State. Yes, he can bludgeon you, but he can also take it the distance and be a decent pass receiver. He is accustomed to working in a backfield with others, so sharing time will not be an issue.
Jaden Shirden, Monmouth: Do not let the height fool you. He is a powerful 5’8” and weighs 190 pounds. He is also a player who perfectly fits the phrase, “all gas, no brake.” Shirden looks like he is shot out of a cannon every time he touches the football, and if you do not get a hand on him immediately, you could be watching him take it in the distance. He could provide legitimate relief for Barkley or half of a new dynamic duo if the Giants turn the page on their veteran back.
Former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Three UFAs Giants Could Consider
AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers: Dillon is a battering ram-type back at 6’ and 246 pounds. He can run through arm tackles and shoulder strikes. He has great balance and is used to working in the backfield with another back. With an offensive line that needs work, having a back that can BYOB would be a great addition.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts: Moss was effective with Buffalo and has proven once again with the Colts that he can be an effective NFL back. Moss is short, but he is not a small back. He is 5’9” and 223 pounds and brings a lot of force when he runs the ball. He also has good vision and is very fluid in and out of cuts.
Dalvin Cook, Ravens: Cook is not “cooked,” as many would lead you to believe. He lost his job in Minnesota because of his price tag, and look at the Vikings run production without him. He was never given a chance with the Jets and was too late to the party in Baltimore. He will be fresh and motivated in 2024 to prove he can still be an elite back in the NFL. That motivation could prove to be valuable for the Giants.
