Positions the NY Giants should avoid in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft.

It shouldn’t have to be said but…

THE NEW YORK GIANTS NEED TO AVOID TAKING A RUNNING BACK IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE DRAFT AT ALL COSTS.

No article written on positions to avoid in the first round can be finished without the running backs. It’s a sad, but true reality that running backs have the shortest careers in the NFL, they get cheap contracts, they are easily replaceable, and there is widespread evidence on finding successful runners in later rounds of the draft.

No, they should NOT pair (or replace) Saquon Barkley with another running back in the first round. Just look at the buyer’s remorse the Giants must have to some degree with Barkley. Yes, they got exceptional talent. But, Saquon has missed 17 of 48 career games, over a third of his career games he could’ve played in. In the games he’s played, Saquon and the NY Giants boast a lowly 8-23 record for a .258 winning percentage. The team could have taken names such as Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and the aforementioned Quenton Nelson who would have provided a greater impact at a much more valuable position.

Taking a 1st round running back to replace or play with Saquon is an absurd idea.

It’s clear now that the team was better suited to taking another position or simply trading back to receive more picks and still get Saquon. The Giants thought they could win now with Saquon paired with an over-the-hill Eli Manning and they hoped he could extend Eli’s playing career and give the team their best last shot at a playoff run.

The plan utterly failed and never should have been considered.

The same should be said with the landscape and outlook of the 2021 New York Giants. They are not a running back away from being a playoff or Super Bowl contender and they need to attack the roster wisely and precisely and come out with the best pick available at #11 overall who will be the most impactful both in the short-term and long-term.