When the New York Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL draft, it was a widely controversial decision.
There was a segment of the Giants’ fanbase that was in love with the pick, but a separate segment who felt they overreached. That opinion was shared by most analysts and experts, who argued that the running back position — not necessarily Barkley himself — was overvalued.
That debate rages to this day and no amount of success Barkley can attain will change that. It’s an issue that persists within his own contract negotiations.
Now, with Barkley slated to become an unrestricted free agent in March, the discussion has resurfaced. Did the Giants make the right choice with that pick? Should Barkley get a big-money contract?
Many of Barkley’s teammates believe the Giants should break the bank for him. But the outside perception remains the same: No running back is worth a hefty investment.
Ultimately, this entire situation could have been avoided.
Connor Hughes of SNY reports that the Denver Broncos called the Giants on draft night in 2018 and had a major offer prepared for the No. 2 spot.
After learning that Baker Mayfield would go No. 1 overall, John Elway was desperate to trade up for quarterback Sam Darnold. He was ready to offer the Giants a King’s random.
Then-general manager Dave Gettleman ignored the call.
“I remember talking to Mike Maccagnan about this because you remember the Jets were drafting third,” Hughes said during a Friday appearance on WFAN. “I’m like, dude, weren’t you nervous like that the Browns and Giants were gonna go quarterback-quarterback and suddenly you’re landing the number three, which would have been Josh Rosen, because after drafting Christian Hackenberg, they weren’t gonna go with a project like Josh Allen again — and he goes, ‘no, because we had our sources that said the Giants were so locked in on Barkley at number two.’
“He goes, ‘I wasn’t worried until the morning of the draft happened, and we got word that it wasn’t Sam going one, that Baker was going one.’ They thought they were getting Baker at three. They had Sam as their number one quarterback, but thought they were getting Baker at three — and he told me that the only time he got worried was that morning, because he knew the only person that loved Sam more than him was John Elway with the Broncos, and he was petrified that John was going to call the Giants and offer the house for No. 2 in order to get Sam Darnold.”
And they did. Or at least they tried to.
“He told me he saw John and said to him, ‘I was surprised you didn’t do that, I really thought you were trying to jump us,’ and they did — but Dave wouldn’t answer the phone,” Hughes said. “Dave was so locked in on No. 2 that he wouldn’t answer the phone. So, when Dave said in his press conference they didn’t need to even take calls, they ran it up to get Barkley — he was not lying.”
Barkley went on to win the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award but his presence hasn’t tipped the scale for New York. There’s no telling how much Gettleman could have gotten back in that trade, but it could have set the Giants up to be better than they’ve been.
Gettleman and the Giants “parted ways” following the 2021 season.
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