With it being NFL Mock Draft season, you just knew that eventually someone would have the NY Giants moving on from star running back Saquon Barkley. Could Joe Schoen actually end up parting ways with the playmaker? With the two sides working on a deal, the hope is that something can get done and the G-Men won’t have to use the franchise tag on him.
However, with the Giants potentially needing to use the tag on Daniel Jones, it could open the door for Saquon to play elsewhere next season. Because of this, the Giants would look to a new starting RB via the 2023 NFL Draft.
In its latest NFL mock, Pro Football Network has the Giants pulling off a bit of a stunning move, with them taking Texas standout Bijon Robinson when they’re on the clock. Another first-round pick on a RB, you say?
Could the NY Giants draft Bijan Robinson in the first round?
"“With Saquon Barkley set to become a free agent, it makes sense that the Giants would look for cheaper options to replace him,” PFN wrote. “If Bijan Robinson falls this far in the first round, there’s no reason to believe the Giants would let him slip past them.”"
Have we learned nothing from past mistakes? When the Giants used their No. 2 overall pick on Barkley, people couldn’t believe it. As great as No. 26 was for the Giants this past season, there’s no way Barkley should have heard his name called that early in the draft. That’s a pick that continues to haunt the G-Men.
The Giants need to focus on improving the interior offensive line, secondary, linebackers room, wide receivers room and more. Running back should be at the bottom of the list for the first-round pick. Robinson is a special talent – we’re not saying that he’s not. It’s just that the Giants must focus on other areas first.
Everything will be made easier once the Giants decide what to do with Jones and Barkley. With Jones apparently eyeing around $45 million per year with the G-Men, the franchise tag makes the most sense for him.
That would result in Barkley being the one to sign a multi-year deal this offseason. Schoen will need to find the right number, otherwise, who knows, maybe PFN will be on to something and Robinson may be in a Big Blue jersey before we know it.
5 first-round mistakes that continue to haunt the NY Giants
The NY Giants have swung and missed on some recent first-round draft picks, and those fateful misses continue to haunt the franchise.