As if there already isn’t enough pressure on Saquon Barkley and Sam Darnold . . .
During the run-up to last month’s NFL Draft, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman was asked what he needed to see in a player drafted with the second overall pick.
“When we set the board and have our conversations, is that guy worth being the second pick in the draft? Can we picture him someday maybe putting on a gold jacket?” Gettleman said. “You have to think that way. You can’t draft anybody with the second pick hoping.”
Gettleman wasn’t ready to reveal then that he’d take the Penn State running back, but now that Barkley is wearing a Giants uniform, the GM unwittingly placed an immense burden on the 21-year-old rookie.