The New York Giants already have Saquon Barkley and Dion Lewis as their 1-2 punch at running back, but should the team consider committing additional resources to the position?
While breaking down one move each NFL team should make before the 2020 regular season gets underway, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggested exactly that for the Giants. He believes they should sign Devonta Freeman.
The idea of the New York Giants signing free-agent running back Devonta Freeman may seem counterintuitive given the presence of superstar Sqauon Barkley. However, adding the versatile runner and receiver would go a long way toward keeping Barkley on the field for a full 16 games.
Knox believes that Barkley needs to avoid being overworked in order to remain healthy, but that’s part of the reason why general manager Dave Gettleman went out and signed Lewis. However, Knox notes that like Lewis, Freeman has proven an ability to excel in a committee situation, which would benefit New York and their entire running back group.
Freeman has worked well in a committee backfield before, racking up more than 1,500 combined rushing and receiving yards while splitting time with Tevin Coleman in 2015. He obviously would play a much smaller role while working alongside Barkley, but even if he took six to eight touches per game, that would significantly reduce the wear and tear on the incumbent over the course of the season.
The one major issue? The Giants don’t really have a lot of free cap space.
Although Knox pegs the Giants with $16 million available, a large chunk of that will be spent on their draft class that has yet to sign (Tae Crowder is the only one under contract). And if linebacker Markus Golden fails to sign with another team by July 22, he, too, will eat up a portion of what little cap space remains.
The Giants do have the tandem of Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman behind Barkley, but Freeman would offer much more flexibility from a single roster spot. With more than $16 million in cap space available, the Giants could afford to add him.
Freeman would be an interesting and potentially exciting addition for the Giants, but he represents a “want” more than a “need.”
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