When the New York Giants chosen operating again Saquon Barkley at No. 2 total within the 2018 NFL draft, it was a extensively controversial determination.
There was a section of the Giants’ fanbase that was in love with the choose, however a separate section who felt they overreached. That opinion was shared by most analysts and consultants, who argued that the operating again place — not essentially Barkley himself — was overvalued.
That debate rages to this present day and no quantity of success Barkley can attain will change that. It’s a difficulty that persists inside his personal contract negotiations.
Now, with Barkley slated to develop into an unrestricted free agent in March, the dialogue has resurfaced. Did the Giants make the correct alternative with that choose? Ought to Barkley get a big-money contract?
A lot of Barkley’s teammates consider the Giants ought to break the financial institution for him. However the exterior notion stays the identical: No operating again is value a hefty funding.
In the end, this whole scenario might have been prevented.
Connor Hughes of SNY studies that the Denver Broncos referred to as the Giants on draft evening in 2018 and had a serious provide ready for the No. 2 spot.
After studying that Baker Mayfield would go No. 1 total, John Elway was determined to commerce up for quarterback Sam Darnold. He was prepared to supply the Giants a King’s random.
Then-general supervisor Dave Gettleman ignored the decision.
“I keep in mind speaking to Mike Maccagnan about this since you keep in mind the Jets have been drafting third,” Hughes mentioned throughout a Friday look on WFAN. “I’m like, dude, weren’t you nervous like that the Browns and Giants have been gonna go quarterback-quarterback and all of the sudden you’re touchdown the quantity three, which might have been Josh Rosen, as a result of after drafting Christian Hackenberg, they weren’t gonna go together with a challenge like Josh Allen once more — and he goes, ‘no, as a result of we had our sources that mentioned the Giants have been so locked in on Barkley at quantity two.’
“He goes, ‘I wasn’t nervous till the morning of the draft occurred, and we obtained phrase that it wasn’t Sam going one, that Baker was going one.’ They thought they have been getting Baker at three. They’d Sam as their primary quarterback, however thought they have been getting Baker at three — and he advised me that the one time he obtained nervous was that morning, as a result of he knew the one person who liked Sam greater than him was John Elway with the Broncos, and he was petrified that John was going to name the Giants and provide the home for No. 2 to be able to get Sam Darnold.”
They usually did. Or not less than they tried to.
“He advised me he noticed John and mentioned to him, ‘I used to be shocked you didn’t try this, I actually thought you have been attempting to leap us,’ they usually did — however Dave wouldn’t reply the telephone,” Hughes mentioned. “Dave was so locked in on No. 2 that he wouldn’t reply the telephone. So, when Dave mentioned in his press convention they didn’t must even take calls, they ran it as much as get Barkley — he was not mendacity.”
Barkley went on to win the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr Award however his presence hasn’t tipped the dimensions for New York. There’s no telling how a lot Gettleman might have gotten again in that commerce, but it surely might have set the Giants as much as be higher than they’ve been.
Gettleman and the Giants “parted methods” following the 2021 season.
