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2018 NFL Draft: New York Giants 7-round mock draft 2.0

By Henry Buggy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A view of the stage prior to the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A view of the stage prior to the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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First-Round – Penn State RB Saquon Barkley (Pick No. 2)

STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 21: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes for a 69 yard touchdown in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines on October 21, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 21: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes for a 69 yard touchdown in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines on October 21, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

If Gettleman truly intends to take the “best player available” then Barkley will be Big Blue’s first-round selection.

The Nittany Lions running back is considered the top draft prospect by most draft analysts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah all have Barkley listed as the No. 1 talent in this year’s class regardless of position.

The G-Men have needs along the offensive line and could look to take a quarterback with the second pick, but a player of Barkley’s caliber doesn’t come along too often. The 5-foot-11, 230-pound tailback amassed 3,843 rushing yards, 1,195 receiving yards, and scored 51 touchdowns in three seasons at Penn State.

Gettleman has shown he is willing to take a running back early, selecting Christian McCaffrey with the No. 8 overall pick in last year’s draft.

USC quarterback Sam Darnold could also make sense here, but New York likely has at least one more full season with Manning under center. Gettleman and Shurmur may also want to see what they have in Davis Webb before using their highest pick since 1981 on a quarterback.

Trading back also remains an option, especially with multiple offensive tackles expected to go in the first-round. But adding a game-changing running back like Barkley will not only take the pressure off Manning, he will also make New York’s offensive line look better with his ability to make tacklers miss.

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