Son knows best when it comes to Chubb
think the thing.” sacking quarterback’s a good
MORE MARSHALL?
Brandon Marshall still is a potential candidate to be released ORLANDO — Saquon Barkley already was a leading candidate to be the Giants’ No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, but the Penn State running back may have jumped out in front of the field Tuesday afternoon.
Giants GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur both separately lauded Barkley’s talent and character. Gettleman stressed that his priority in retooling his roster this offseason is “winning now,” which seemingly points to drafting a player who can contribute immediately over a rookie quarterback who would sit and learn.
And the increasing possibility of an Odell Beckham Jr. trade unquestionably would have the Giants searching to replace at least some of OBJ’s game-breaking ability on offense — a special quality Barkley displayed in college.
The expectation is Barkley will be available to the Giants at No. 2, since the Cleveland Browns are thought to be eyeing a quarterback at No. 1, likely USC’s Sam Darnold.
“(Barkley’s skill set) is unusual, I’m telling ya,” Gettleman said on the balcony of the RitzCarlton Grande Lakes. “He can string together moves and get in and out of stuff. It’s funny, I did (his film evaluation) right before I came down here. He’s unique, no doubt about it. He’s big, he’s powerful, he can step on the gas, for salary-cap savings once he is cleared medically, but it did sound like Shurmur seemed intrigued by the possibility of retaining Marshall, too.
“I find him to be very charismatic,” he’s got different levels of speed, and he catches the heck out of the ball, and he sees the blitz pickup stuff.”
Gettleman, who has prioritized high character players almost across the board in free agency, also said Barkley’s reputation precedes him when it comes to his potential fit in the Giants’ desired culture. And Gettleman is eager to learn more after only barely meeting Barkley at the brief 15-minute Combine interview about a month ago.
“We’ll have him in (for a visit to East Rutherford). Shame on me if I don’t know him,” Gettleman said. “And I think that everybody’s said he’s a great, great human being. I’ll find out for myself.”
The Daily News already has reported that the Giants have shown more interest in Barkley than any other team at the top of the draft. The Giants’ current backfield of Jonathan Stewart, Wayne Gallman and Paul Perkins makes obvious the club’s intentions to take a running back at some point in April’s draft.
And Shurmur wasn’t shying away from explaining what makes Barkley so dynamic, either.
“He’s equally as impressive (as) the quarterbacks we’ve talked about (at the top of the draft),” Shurmur said. “When you watch his tape, you don’t see anything he can’t do. As a running back certainly he’s got to be able to run the ball and secure the ball and he’s done that — and put the Shurmur said. “He’s been in the building, had a chance to see him. He’s had a really really fine career. I don’t know that much about him quite frankly, but he’s really a big, good-looking (player). He expressed to me he’s passionate about winning and wants to be involved in a winning culture.”
ISN’T THAT SPECIAL
ball in the end zone, which he’s done. “He’s really a pretty good pass protector, in terms of protecting the quarterback, that’s an important piece,” Shurmur added. “And then he can catch the football, as well. He can do everything you’re looking for in a running back, and then he’s a terrific human being, as well. We got to spend some time at the Combine. Our people have been to see him, and I’m certainly going to get to learn more about him as we go, as well.”
Gettleman left the door open to trading down, revealing teams have called about moving up.
“Have we had calls? Yes. Yes,” Gettleman said. “But we haven’t set our board yet, all right, and it’s about you’re drafting, when you’re signing unrestricted free agents, it’s all about value — it really truly is. This is the second pick of the draft. We really have to picture this guy putting on a gold jacket (as a future Hall of Famer).”
Both the GM and coach stressed that a running back, Barkley specifically, easily could be worthy of No. 2.
“I don’t think No. 2 overall is too high to take any player who warrants that pick,” Shurmur said. “I’m sure you’re asking about a particular running back, and I don’t think (it’s too high), no.”
Gettleman may have put it best: “If I’m sitting on my big cheeks looking at the (draft) board and I’m saying this guy has got it, really, is it hard?”
Shurmur may have let the cat out of the bag — though it wouldn’t be a surprise — that Aldrick Rosas’ days as the Giants’ kicker are through. “I think we’re gonna add a new punter, new kicker, ya know,” he said, adding later that Rosas does have a “big, strong leg.”
Shurmur’s line of the day, though, may have been about Zak DeOssie, 33, who is entering his 12th NFL season all as a Giant. “And we have a long-snapper that, he comes with the building,” Shurmur joked. “I mean, I don’t know how long he’s been there, but he looks older than me.”