New York Giants keep or dump? Can John Mara turn franchise around?

Running backs

Saquon Barkley: DUMP

Devontae Booker: KEEP

Gary Brightwell: KEEP

It is unrealistic that the NY Giants will move on from Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but a new general manager should absolutely explore the possibility of trading the franchise player.

This season, Barkley’s first since returning from a torn ACL suffered in Sept. 2020, showed how woefully inept the NY Giants’ offensive line is at creating running lanes for Barkley and his home run style seems miscast for New York’s personnel up front.

If the NY Giants can wrangle even a third-round pick from a contending team such as the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, or Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for Barkley, it’s an avenue worth exploring.

Likewise, the cap-strapped Giants would create $7.2 million in cap space by trading Barkley prior to June 1.

Meanwhile, Devontae Booker looked at times like a franchise back, and his one-cut running style might be better suited than Barkley’s to see a modicum of success behind an offensive line in the midst of an overhaul.