When the New York Giants chosen operating again Saquon Barkley at No. 2 total within the 2018 NFL draft, it was a extensively controversial choice.
There was a phase of the Giants’ fanbase that was in love with the choose, however a separate phase 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 at the present time 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 proper selection with that choose? Ought to Barkley get a big-money contract?
Lots of Barkley’s teammates consider the Giants ought to break the financial institution for him. However the outdoors notion stays the identical: No operating again is value a hefty funding.
In the end, this complete state of affairs may have been prevented.
Connor Hughes of SNY studies that the Denver Broncos known as the Giants on draft evening in 2018 and had a significant 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 stated 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 out of the blue 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 stated the Giants have been so locked in on Barkley at quantity two.’
“He goes, ‘I wasn’t fearful till the morning of the draft occurred, and we received phrase that it wasn’t Sam going one, that Baker was going one.’ They thought they have been getting Baker at three. That they had Sam as their primary quarterback, however thought they have been getting Baker at three — and he advised me that the one time he received fearful was that morning, as a result of he knew the one individual that beloved 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 in an effort to get Sam Darnold.”
And so they did. Or a minimum of they tried to.
“He advised me he noticed John and stated 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 stated. “Dave was so locked in on No. 2 that he wouldn’t reply the telephone. So, when Dave stated in his press convention they didn’t have to 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 size for New York. There’s no telling how a lot Gettleman may have gotten again in that commerce, however it may have set the Giants as much as be higher than they’ve been.
Gettleman and the Giants “parted methods” following the 2021 season.
