5 Saquon Barkley replacements the NY Giants can target in 2024
By Zak Musso
3. Trey Benson
With the running back market in shambles, Schoen may opt to find Barkley's replacement in the 2024 NFL Draft. A blueprint has been laid out for NFL general managers regarding running backs in the last half-decade. Draft a running back, let him play out his rookie contract, let that player hit free agency, and draft a new young and cheap running back.
The 2024 NFL Draft has a ton of intriguing backs including Michigan's Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, Wisconsin's Braelon Allen, Arkansas's Raheim Sanders, Ohio State's Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson, but Trey Benson is currently the leader of the 2024 running back class.
Benson, a 6-1, 221-pounder, spent his freshmen season at Oregon before transferring to Florida State, where he rushed for 990 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022. He has a chance to build upon that in 2023, and should play in a lot of high-profile games for Florida State in 2023, a team projected to be ranked in the top 10 of the preseason AP poll. PFF has high praise for the stud RB:
"He finished the year with a 91.3 rushing grade and an impressive 0.51 missed tackles forced per attempt. The latter figure is the highest average that PFF has recorded in the past 10 years.
- PFF's Trevor Sikkema
He’s a back who has the vision, patience and footwork to consistently find open space, and then the playmaking mentality to make guys miss when he gets there. With adequate long speed, as well, Benson presents an alluring skill set and RB1 potential."