McCAFFREY EXCITES GIANTS

Do-it-all back McCaffrey would be boon for Big Blue

The question was posed then answered with a question, which really is all you need to know about what the Giants think about Christian McCaffrey. “What can’t he do?’’ This, from someone familiar with the Giants’ thinking heading into the NFL draft, is a four-word synopsis of a player viewed as a perfect fit in their offense — a do-everything running back who would keep coach Ben McAdoo up at night, devising new and inventive ways to get the ball in his soft yet vice-grip hands. The Giants have the 23rd-overall pick in the first round Thursday night, which might be out of the comfort zone to nab McCaffrey — a coveted player in a draft loaded with quality running backs.

The Giants can hope and dream that McCaffrey is on the board when their turn comes, because he checks off so many boxes he almost needs a category all to himself. The Giants’ leading rusher the past two seasons, Rashad Jennings, was released and currently is making his moves on “Dancing With The Stars.’’ Veteran Shane Vereen returns after playing in just five games in 2016 because of two separate triceps injuries. Paul Perkins, coming off a solid rookie year, looks to be ready to take on a bigger role. There is Orleans Darkwa in reserve.

But there is no one like Christian McCaffrey.

The Giants drafted his father, Ed, in the third round in 1991, and the tall receiver went on to play 13 years in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls with the Broncos. Christian is the next generation, smaller and far more versatile. In fact, he might be the most multiskilled player in this year’s entire draft, which is why the Giants liken him to a Swiss Army knife.

Leonard Fournette of LSU is bigger and more powerful, and Dalvin Cook of Florida State is faster and more dynamic. In many ways, though, McCaffrey is the best fit of the three for the Giants.

If there is a “knock” on McCaffrey, it is that some scouts doubt if he can be an everydown back, that at 5- foot-11 and 202 pounds he is more of a “tweener’’ who will not be able to withstand constant NFL pounding. The Giants have no such concerns, mainly because they view the position as a two-headed attack and have no intention of giving any one back 20-25 rushing attempts.

Plus, look at the tape. McCaffrey set an NCAA single-season record in 2015 with 3,864 allpurpose yards. In 2016, he led the nation with 211.6 all-purpose yards per game. Workhorse? He ran 31 times for a Stanford schoolrecord 284 yards, with three touchdowns, against California.

Here is an example of how the Giants can envision McCaffrey fitting into their offense, getting 20 “touches’’ per game: nine rushing attempts seven receptions three punt returns one kickoff return. The Giants see McCaffrey as such a gifted pass-catcher that they would have no problem sending his card in at the draft listing him as a receiver. Lining up in the slot, McCaffrey goes from running back to nightmare matchup for any defense.

“Is Julian Edelman a really fun NFL player? Yes or no?’’ asked the source with knowledge of the Giants’ draft strategy. “Well, you don’t think this guy is gonna be better than Julian Edelman? He’s a lot faster. This guy can be a starting wide receiver. What can’t he do? He’s a better blocker than most of the other backs. He’s not a big thumper, but handplacement and technique-wise he’s ahead of a lot of guys. Is he gonna get run over by Von Miller? They all do. Leonard Fournette, at 240 pounds, is gonna get run over by Von Miller, too.’’

Adding McCaffrey counts as only one roster spot, but he fills so many more slots on the depth chart. He instantly could be a team’s primary return man on special teams. With the Giants, that would put pressure on Dwayne Harris to improve off a disappointing 2016 season. McCaffrey would be the perfect insurance in case Vereen’s body betrays him again. McCaffrey can be left alone in the backfield and be trusted to handle his blocking assignment in pass protection — a detriment for most rookie running backs.

“When you get a player that has a skillset like McCaffery and maybe [ Michigan’s Jabrill] Peppers, these guys do a lot of different things for their team, and you can save yourself a roster spot more than anything else,’’ general manager Jerry Reese said. “If you get a guy like that, then maybe you don’t have to go out and get a return specialist.

“To their defense a little bit, I think they get hurt a little bit because they play so many different positions and people say, ‘Well, what does this guy do?’ I think that maybe devalues them a little bit. But we like guys with a lot of versatility.’’

In other words, what can’t McCaffrey do?