PRO & QUON
Big Blue can’t afford to miss out on potential once-in-a-generation talent
Penn State RB Saquon Barkley looks like he could be a star, but is he worth the Giants taking with the No. 2 pick Thursday night?
WITH Thursday’s NFL draft fast approaching, I’ve been hearing some Giants fans weighing in with rants about taking a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick. In response to those who seem more obsessed with finding Eli Manning’s replacement than making the team around him better, wi t h respect, please allow me to borrow one of Dave Gettleman’s favorite expressions: Hogwash. Unless Gettleman, the Giants’ colorful general manager, and his scouts are sold on one of the quarterback prospects the way Ernie Accorsi was sold on Manning, it would be utterly foolish to pass on Penn State running back Saquon Barkley when their number is called Thursday night. Barkley has potential to be a special, once-in-a-generation talent and the Giants would be crazy to pass him up. Barkley, with his rare combination of running and receiving talent, when teamed with Odell Beckham Jr., can turn the Giants offense into a video game — with Manning gleefully manning the joystick. So, Giants, please don’t complicate a simple decision. Keep it simple and draft Barkley. Given the rare elevated position in the draft where the Giants are picking and given the fact Manning is 37 years old, fans wanting a quarterback of the future is an understandable sentiment. But to this theory I ask this question of Giants fans: Wouldn’t you rather win now? Giants fans have watched their team produce four losing seasons in the past f ive years with one playoff appearance since 2011. That’s no fun for anyone — least of all the fans who are dutifully paying the PSL freight at MetLife Stadium. Gettleman last week stated his directive perfectly and succinctly when he said, “As the GM, I walk a tightrope. I’ve got to look at the short-term [and] then I’ve got to look at the long-term.” Notice he said “short-term’’ first. By drafting Barkley, Gettleman will accomplish both objectives.
If Gettleman passes on Barkley and takes one of the quarterbacks, he’ll hurt the shortterm success of the team and will be rolling the dice that whomever he selects truly will replace Manning. Every one of the top quarterbacks in this draft has warts signif icant enough that it’s possible none becomes a Super Bowl-winning quarterback or even a long-term starter.
threw USC’s 22 interceptions Sam Da r n and o l d fumbled 21 times (losing 14 of them) in 27 collegiate games. That’s as bright a red flag as you can have entering the NFL, where turnovers decide outcomes more than any other element of the game.
UCLA’s Josh Rosen, at 6-foot-4 and just 226 pounds, had durability issues in college, playing in just six games as a sophomore before a shoulder injury ended his season, and missing two games this past season after suffering two concussions.
Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield is only slightly taller than 6-feet and his brash behavior is cause for concern.
Wyoming’s Josh Allen finished his college career with college career with a mere 56 percent completion percentage and he didn’t face the toplevel competition in college that the aforementioned three players did, and in his three games against Power Five teams he threw one touchdown and eight interceptions.
“When you’re picking this high, if you make a mistake, if you miss on a quarterback, it’s a f iveyear mistake,” Gettleman said last week. If you’re a Giants fan, do you want a potential five-year mistake or do you want to make a run right now with Barkley headlining an improved cast around Manning, who’s already proven he can win based on his two Super Bowl MVP trophies? It’s a no-brainer. immediately “You have makes a great your running quarterback back [and] better, he your offensive line better and your passing game better,’’ Gettleman said. Barkley rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons at Penn State, finishing with 3,843 rushing yards and 43 TDs for his career. He also had 102 catches for 1,195 yards and eight TDs. If your draft-a-quarterback argument is based on the theory that you can find a running back anywhere — lower in the draft or on the street — look at what Ezekiel Elliott did for the Cowboys, Leonard Fournette did for the Jaguars and Todd Gurley did for the Rams. Elliott (1,631 rushing yards and 15 TDs) turned turned the the Cowboys Cowboys (13-3) (13-3) into into instant instant con- contenders tenders his his rookie rookie year year in in 2016. 2016. Fournette Fournette (1,040 yards and 9 TDs in 13 games) turned turned the the Jaguars Jaguars from from perennial perennial los- losers ers (22-74 (22-74 in in the the six six seasons seasons before before his his arrival) arrival) to to division division winners winners who who got got to to the the AFC AFC Championship Championship last last sea- season. son. And And Gurley Gurley (1,305 (1,305 yards yards and and 13 13 TDs, TDs, along along with with 64 64 receptions receptions 788 788 yards yards and and another another 6 6 TDs), TDs), helped helped the the Rams Rams to to the the NFC NFC West West title title last last sea- sea-son. Top running backs make a difference. The Giants, who ranked 26th in the league in rushing last season, have had one 1,000yard rusher since 2011 and have made the playoffs once since then. That’s not a coincidence. So keep it simple on Thursday, Giants. Get better instantly, and for the future. Pass on the quarterback candy and draft Barkley.