The New York Giants let Saquon Barkley walk last offseason, and now they might be feeling some serious buyer’s remorse. How else do you explain them setting up a formal meeting with Boise State superstar running back Ashton Jeanty, one of the best RB prospects in years?
To be clear, no, the Giants are not about to draft Jeanty with the No. 3 overall pick. That would be an all-time reach, even for a team that handed Daniel Jones $160 million. But the fact that they’re spending time with the draft’s top running back does raise some questions. Could this be a sign they’re planning to trade back and target Jeanty? Is this just due diligence? Or—somewhat concerning—are they seriously considering investing a premium pick in another running back after watching Barkley walk for nothing?
The following teams have formal meetings scheduled with Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, per source:
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) February 25, 2025
• Giants
• Broncos
• Vikings
• Steelers
• Colts
• Bears
• Chargers
• Ravens
• Saints
The Giants have major roster holes—quarterback, offensive line, secondary, defensive line—you name it. At this point, you could pick any position at random, and chances are the Giants need help there. But meeting with Jeanty suggests they at least want to see if an elite RB can be part of the solution.
The Giants have scheduled a formal meeting with Ashton Jeanty
Let’s be clear: Jeanty is outstanding. He just put up over 2,600 rushing yards while averaging seven yards per carry and won nearly every major running back award. He has elite elusiveness, vision, and contact balance—think prime Josh Jacobs, but with more breakaway speed.
But here’s the problem: this roster is not in a position to spend premium draft capital on a running back.
The Giants have one legitimate offensive weapon in Malik Nabers, an offensive line that needs serious reinforcements, and no franchise quarterback. Using a top pick on Jeanty instead of a QB, WR, or even an offensive lineman would be like putting a high-performance engine into a car with three flat tires.
It’s a great addition—but what’s the point if the rest of the vehicle is struggling?
Sure, maybe they’re looking at Jeanty as an option if he somehow falls into the second round. Or maybe this is about pairing new RB coach Ladell Betts with a top-tier talent to build around. But if this is about overcompensating for Barkley, that’s an overcorrection the team can’t afford to make.
The most likely scenario? This is just a formality. The Giants should meet with every elite prospect to cover all their bases. But the timing is interesting, especially with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll in “save our jobs” mode.
If the Giants are seriously considering Jeanty anywhere near the first round, it means they’ve learned absolutely nothing from the Barkley situation. But if this is just due diligence, it’s a smart move—because no matter how good Jeanty is, spending a premium pick on a running back when this team needs everything else would be a major misstep.