The Giants rumors continue to grow around who New York will target in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. A popular name rumored to the New York Giants at the 2nd overall pick in the draft is Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants running game really struggled last season ranking 26th in yards and 28th in touchdowns. The Giants ran the ball only 394 times last season and if they want to take pressure off the offensive line and quarterback Eli Manning. So how realistic is it for the Giants to draft Barkley with the second overall pick? Well, let's follow the trail the Giants have left us.
A few weeks ago Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said he values running backs.
"I have a high opinion of what a running back brings to your offense," said Shurmur at the NFL Combine. "But I also have a very high opinion that guy has to be able to run the ball, be able to pass protect and has to be able to catch. That's one of the things we have to get better at, catching the football. The running back can be a huge weapon in the passing game."
That description sounds a lot like Barkley who carried the ball 217 times for 1,271 yards, and 18 touchdowns plus had 54 receptions for 632 yards and three touchdowns in his final season.
WATCH: Saquon Barkley 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Strengths, Weaknesses And Player Comparison
Selecting a running back at the second overall pick in the NFL Draft is considered by some to be dumb because running backs don't have long careers. Giants co-owner John Mara disagrees with this thought.
"I certainly don't think it's too high to take a running back," Mara said Sunday. "And, yeah, I think we could use some additional talent."
The Giants traded for veteran running back Jonathan Stewart this offseason who rushed for 680 yards on 198 carries for the Carolina Panthers in 2017. He joins a backfield with names like Orleans Darkwa, Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen, and Wayne Gallman.
If the Cleveland Browns don't select Barkley first overall, it shouldn't surprise anyone to see the Giants draft Barkley second overall.
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