4 RBs the NY Giants could target in the NFL Draft if Saquon Barkley doesn’t return

Every year leading up to NFL free agency, we all have a controversial debate: should you sign a running back to a long-term contract? Teams have different philosophies on this one. Recently the Cowboys signed Ezekiel Elliott to his massive deal and the Panthers signed Christian McCaffrey to a big-time payday. Both of those moves were awful.

With the NY Giants, they must figure out what needs to be done with Saquon Barkley. While the team has the franchise tag available, Barkley and Joe Schoen would surely like to avoid that and have a fair contract for both sides be signed instead.

With the Giants having holes to address at receiver, linebacker and the interior of the offensive line in free agency, it could make sense for Schoen to let Barkley walk and target one or two cheap running backs in the draft to fill the void. Will that happen? You never know. In case it does, here’s a look at four RBs the G-Men could bring in to make a difference at the position.

4. Texas RB Bijan Robinson

The best running back draft prospect since Saquon Barkley and likely the only running back who will garner first-round attention is Texas phenom Bijan Robinson. Robinson is currently the No. 7 ranked prospect on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2023 draft big board.

Robinson has been the focal point in both the passing game and running game while at Texas. In his 2.5 years playing for the Longhorns, Robinson has 443 rushing attempts for 2,750 yards and 26 touchdowns while also hauling in 58 passes for 771 yards and eight touchdowns.

Robinson profiles as an every down back in the NFL thanks to his elite rushing and receiving skills. His NFL comparison is Barkley, because he has the same elite juke moves and the ability to take any rush to the house, evident by his multiple 70+ yard touchdowns in college.

Robinson will only be 21 when he is drafted in April, so he has lots of tread left on his tires, and so far, a clean bill of health. The only draw back to Robinson is he has some struggles in the blocking game, but if you remember, Barkley struggled with that early in his career. If the Giants want to replace Barkley with a three down version of himself, Robinson is the guy to select.

3. Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs is a special talent who would be the No. 1 running back prospect in most draft classes. Gibbs spent the first two years of his college career at Georgia Tech before transferring to Alabama. Gibbs has burst onto the national scene like many do at Alabama, and is currently firmly entrenched in the Heisman race.

The phenom running back prospect has 672 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns to pair with his 301 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in eight games at Alabama this season. Gibbs may just be the fastest running back in the draft, and on this play, he displays his silly video game-like acceleration.

He also terrorized poor Arkansas, putting up a signature Alabama running back performance.

Selecting running backs out of Alabama has been a pretty safe bet, as Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris, Damien Harris, Mark Ingram, and Brian Robinson Jr. are all currently in the midst of very successfully NFL careers.

Gibbs projects to be an Alvin Kamara-type player, and with Brian Daboll wanting his offense to be a passing first offense, that kind of running back would be the perfect fit.

2. Auburn RB Tank Bigsby

Unlike Robinson and Gibbs who will be selected quickly, Tank Bigsby is likely a running back you can target in the middle rounds of the draft. Bigsby burst onto the scene during his freshman season at Auburn, rushing for 834 yards and five touchdowns. Tank followed that up by rushing for 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021.

Bigsby’s name is fitting, because he is truly a Tank in the running game. Bigsby is a power running back, who is tough, physical, and punishes oncoming defenders. Bigsby isn’t as explosive as the other running backs in the 2023 draft class, but he definitely has some explosion.

Bigsby is not much of a threat in the passing game, and struggles in pass protection, so he would be much more effective in a running back rotation. If the Giants are looking for a running back rotation, Bigsby would be an ideal first and second-down running back.

1. Minnesota RB Mohamed Ibrahim

Every year in the lead up to the NFL Draft, fans discuss what is more important: production or physical traits? No college running back has a better track record of production than Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Ibrahim is not a threat in the passing game, but has rushed 717 times for 3,958 yards and 46 touchdowns in his college career.

More impressively, Ibrahim has rushed for 100 or more yards in 17 straight games, a streak that dates back four seasons to 2019. Two things working against Ibrahim’s draft stock are his extensive injury history and his age. The Minnesota standout has battled injuries throughout his five seasons at Minnesota, including a torn ACL in the 2021 season opener against Ohio State. Ibrahim will be a 25-year-old rookie in 2023, and is just nine months younger than Barkley, who will start his sixth NFL season next September.

Though he has drawbacks, Ibrahim does have incredible power and speed that could help any NFL backfield. Due to his age and injury concern, Ibrahim will be available in the late rounds. With his production and ability, Ibrahim would be the perfect late-round flier.