The Giants let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency a year ago, a decision many perceived as the result of the way the franchise — and much of the NFL — values running backs.
There was a time when the Giants stood on the other side of the great running back debate, though. As some teams were starting to see running backs as too easily replaceable to invest heavy resources into them, New York selected Barkley near the top of the draft and made him an instant centerpiece of the franchise.
The decision to take Barkley off the board over some highly-touted quarterbacks earned the Giants some criticism at the time. While Barkley is finishing up a historic season in Philadelphia, it’s still fair to argue New York didn’t play its cards correctly on draft night.
Here’s a look back at the Giants’ selection of Barkley and the quarterbacks New York passed on.
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When was Saquon Barkley drafted?
The Giants selected Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Barkley was the first running back chosen in the top two since Reggie Bush in 2006, and he remains tied with Bush and Ronnie Brown as the highest-drafted running back in the last 29 drafts.
Will another running back ever be drafted as high as Barkley? The NFL has shifted away from viewing running back value so highly, and the contracts at the position reflect that shift. At $12.6 million per year, Barkley is the third-highest-paid running back in the NFL. That would rank 32nd among wide receivers or 49th among offensive tackles.
The Giants received some criticism for taking a running back with such a prime pick in the twilight of Eli Manning’s career. As talented as Barkley is, New York’s inability to get the most out of him or win with him justified many of those concerns.
Baker Mayfield came off the board with the No. 1 pick, but Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen were all top-10 picks after Barkley, with Lamar Jackson taken at the end of the first round.
Of course, that group is a mixed bag. Rosen didn’t pan out, while Darnold needed the right situation to finally put together a Pro Bowl season. Allen, on the other hand, has become a perennial MVP candidate in Buffalo, though he was seen as a wild card in the 2018 draft. Jackson wasn’t even considered a contender for a top-five pick, even if that seems ludicrous in hindsight.
There are two ways to evaluate the Giants’ decision, and both might have some truth in them. New York was correct that Barkley was an otherworldly talent who could be the focal point of an offense. At the same time, the Giants proved that even the most talented running backs don’t necessarily move the needle enough on their own to justify a top-two pick.
The Giants’ selection of Barkley wasn’t a total flop by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s the Eagles who are reaping the rewards seven years later.
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2018 NFL Draft, revisited
Here are the top 16 picks of the 2018 NFL Draft:
| Pick | Player | Position | Team |
| 1 | Baker Mayfield | QB | Browns |
| 2 | Saquon Barkley | RB | Giants |
| 3 | Sam Darnold | QB | Jets |
| 4 | Denzel Ward | CB | Browns |
| 5 | Bradley Chubb | DE | Broncos |
| 6 | Quenton Nelson | OG | Colts |
| 7 | Josh Allen | QB | Bills |
| 8 | Roquan Smith | LB | Bears |
| 9 | Mike McGlinchey | OT | 49ers |
| 10 | Josh Rosen | QB | Cardinals |
| 11 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | S | Dolphins |
| 12 | Vita Vea | DT | Buccaneers |
| 13 | Daron Payne | DT | Redskins |
| 14 | Marcus Davenport | DE | Saints |
| 15 | Kolton Miller | OT | Raiders |
| 16 | Tremaine Edmunds | LB | Bills |
Four quarterbacks came off the board in the top 10, including three after the Giants drafted Barkley. CB Denzel Ward, DE Bradley Chubb, OG Quenton Nelson, LB Roquan Smith and OT Mike McGlinchey rounded out the top 10.
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Saquon Barkley college stats
| Season | Games | Rush att. | Rush yards | YPC | Rec. yards | Total TD |
| 2015 | 11 | 182 | 1,076 | 5.9 | 161 | 8 |
| 2016 | 14 | 272 | 1,496 | 5.5 | 402 | 22 |
| 2017 | 13 | 217 | 1,271 | 5.9 | 632 | 21 |
| Career | 38 | 671 | 3,843 | 5.7 | 1,195 | 51 |
Barkley ran for a career-high 1,496 yards during his sophomore season at Penn State. He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting the following year after recording 1,903 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns.
At one point in 2017, Barkley appeared to be the Heisman frontrunner. He totaled 853 scrimmage yards over his first four games alone and made a major impact as a kick returner, making himself the early favorite for the award.
While a slower finish to the season knocked Barkley below eventual winner Mayfield along with Bryce Love and Jackson, the Giants were still enamored enough to take him No. 2 overall in April.
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