With Daboll ties, Singletary arrives as replacement

The Giants have a new running back not named Saquon Barkley.

Not long after the news hit that Barkley was headed to the Eagles, the Giants agreed to terms with Devin Singletary on a three-year deal worth $16.5 million. That is far less than what Barkley received from the Eagles (three years, $37.75 million).

Not that anyone has ever compared Barkley and Singletary as players. It is clear that general manager Joe Schoen has a vision for what he wanted to spend at the position and was more comfortable going with this expenditure for a running back he knows well, as opposed to soaring well over $10 million per year to keep Barkley.

Singletary, 26, spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Bills. Schoen was the assistant general manager when Singletary was a 2019 third-round pick out of Florida Atlantic. In four years with the Bills — playing for Brian Daboll, then their offensive coordinator — Singletary was a consistent factor, rushing for 775, 687, 870 and 819 yards, respectively. In 2023,

Singletary ran for a careerhigh 898 yards for the Texans, playing in all 17 games.

The arrival of Singletary should not be viewed strictly as the Giants finding their replacement for Barkley. Singletary is expected to be part of a shared backfield, possibly with a rookie draft pick, possibly with second-year back Eric Gray, who was not impressive as a rookie in limited opportunities.

The 5-foot-7, 203-pound Singletary, who, like Barkley, wears No. 26, is certainly not the powerful force Barkley was but his career rushing average is 4.6 yards per attempt. Barkley’s is 4.3.

No doubt, Daboll, now the Giants’ head coach, is comfortable giving the ball to Singletary or else he would not have put his stamp on this signing.