Saquon Barkley

Why The New York Giants Should Be In Love With Josh Rosen

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The New York Giants are pondering a change at the quarterback position. A plethora of options is available for the Giants via the draft and trade. The Giants are aware that they need to find Eli Manning’s successor sooner than later. This leaves fans confused by the recent reports that the Giants are not in love with young quarterback Josh Rosen.

Reports have also indicated that the Giants are not interested in the draft’s top quarterbacks such as Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins. If the Giants are not interested in any quarterback this offseason, they will have to get really lucky to secure one next offseason. The Giants are in good position to find their guy this offseason. That guy should be Josh Rosen.

The Giants should be in love with Josh Rosen for the following reasons:

The Josh Rosen & Eli Manning Comparison

Josh Rosen is a pure pocket-passing quarterback who stands tall in the pocket and goes through his progressions. Some experts and analysts have compared Rosen to Eli Manning. They have a similar play-style.

Like Manning, Rosen makes plays that are incredible, then follows them up with plays that are terrible. The key is to balance the two and eventually create more incredible plays than terrible plays. Josh Rosen struggled with this in his rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals. But Giants fans need to remember, Eli Manning struggled with this in his rookie season, too.

Eli Manning is not the only quarterback to bounce back after a terrible rookie season. Rams quarterback Jared Goff did the same. After his rookie year, Goff looked like a total bust. Then, the Rams fired their head coach, brought in Sean McVay, and Goff turned into a top 10-15 quarterback in the NFL.

Sometimes, all the quarterback needs is a little change. Josh Rosen was thrown into a terrible situation in his rookie year. He played behind the worst offensive line in the NFL (according to Pro Football Focus), his offensive coordinator was fired mid-season, and his head coach was fired at the end of the season, after just one year with Arizona.

For Josh Rosen, a change of scenery could do wonders for his career. Considering him and Eli Manning have such a similar playstyle, Rosen would reap tremendous benefits from playing and learning with Manning for a year or two.

During the 2018 NFL Combine, Rosen was asked about the possibility of sitting behind Eli Manning. His response proved he was more than willing to do so:

The Trade’s Value

Finding a franchise quarterback is not an easy thing to do. That is why when teams find one, they pay that player more than anyone else on their team. Unfortunately, allocating this much cap space to one player makes it difficult to build the rest of the team. The best teams in the NFL have found a way around this.

NFL teams have been saving their cap space by acquiring a young, talented quarterback on a rookie contract and then building a team around him. Financially, Josh Rosen is the perfect quarterback to build a team around. Over the next 3 years, his total cap hit is only $6.4 million. Paying the league’s most expensive position only $2 million per year is a tremendous value.

On top of that, the team that trades for Rosen will not have to give up too much. The price to pay is a 2nd round pick, plus a future late/mid-round pick. Josh Rosen is a player who had a 1st round grade a year ago, and he can now be acquired for a 2nd round pick.

The Giants have the highest picks out of all the teams interested in Rosen. If the Giants want him, they can get him, and at an amazing value, too.

Josh Rosen Is Still A Good Player Who Has Flashed His Potential

This is the most compelling reason why the Giants should be in love with Josh Rosen. Sure, he had a bad rookie season. Yes, his statistics were terrible. He only threw 11 touchdowns in 13 games but had 14 interceptions. But, statistics never tell the full story.

At the end of the day, NFL scouts watched hours of Josh Rosen’s college game tape and decided he is a 1st round talent. His poor rookie season should not change the Giants’ opinions much from last year. They believed he was worthy of a 1st round pick last year, so why would he not be worth a 2nd round pick this year?

Even though he was playing behind that terrible offensive line and throwing to below-average receivers, Josh Rosen flashed his true potential. When Rosen had time in the pocket and a chance to make a play, he usually capitalized and made the most of the opportunity. Unfortunately, he did not have too many opportunities.

https://twitter.com/incarceratedbob/status/1113861491051175936

With Saquon Barkley in the backfield, an improved offensive line, a great offensive mind in Pat Shurmur, and a talented group of playmakers, the Giants could turn Josh Rosen into a superstar.

New York Giants: Is A.J. Brown Hinting That The Giants Are Drafting Him?

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The New York Giants brought A.J. Brown in for a top-30 visit.

The New York Giants have holes all over their roster heading into the 2019 NFL Draft. One big hole opened up at wide receiver after the Giants traded Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns.

After creating this hole in their roster, the Giants were quick to address the position. To start, the Giants signed Golden Tate to be their new primary receiver opposite Sterling Shepard. Then, the Giants met with a few wide receiver prospects, such as Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown.

How Did A.J. Brown Reveal His Desire To Be A New York Giant?

Following his meeting with the New York Giants, A.J. Brown seemed to hint on social media that he will be a Giant come April, or at least that he wants to be a Giant. Brown did this in a similar fashion to what Saquon Barkley did last offseason.

Last year, Saquon was seen wearing a New York Giants hoodie in a barbershop prior to the NFL Draft. This came soon after Barkley met with the Giants and only a few weeks before the Draft.

This could have been Saquon’s way of convincing the Giants to draft him. Barkley showed he wanted to be a part of the New York media and the New York Giants. Saquon also could have been wearing the hoodie because he knew he would be a New York Giant.

On Saturday, A.J. Brown posted videos of himself wearing a Giants t-shirt on social media. The question is, which reason was Brown wearing the Giants gear for? Was he trying to convince them to draft him? Or have the Giants informed him they will be doing all they can to draft him?

Why The Giants Should Draft A.J. Brown:

A.J. Brown would be a great pick by the Giants. The 17th overall pick might be reaching on Brown, but if he falls to the 2nd round (37th overall) pick, he would be an absolute steal for the Giants.

Brown is arguably the most talented receiver in the 2019 NFL Draft class. If he were to be drafted by the Giants, there is a good chance he could step in and be their top receiver for years to come. Brown can play from the slot or outside. He is a versatile receiver with a dependable game style.

At Ole Miss, A.J. Brown was as dependable as they come. In his junior 2018 season of collegiate football, Brown was spectacular. He was Ole Miss’s leading receiver with 85 catches, 1,320 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

A.J. Brown is 6 feet tall and weighs 226 pounds. He has a solid build, allowing him to line up all over the place and reel in contested catches. Brown does not have blazing speed, but he has enough to get the job done with a 4.49 40-yard dash.

If the Giants draft A.J. Brown, their starting receivers would be Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, and A.J. Brown. At 6 feet tall, Brown would be the tallest of the group. This would give Brown extra targets inside the red zone.

A.J. Brown might be able to make contested catches in the red zone, but that is not where he excels. Brown is a quick receiver with elite route running. His ability to create separation is his best feature. However, his ability to make plays after the catch is a close second. In 2017, A.J. forced 23 missed tackles and in 2018 he forced 17.

New York Giants: Giants Could Create A Monstrous Backfield In The 2019 NFL Draft

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Could the New York Giants take a flier on Miles Sanders?

If there is one position the New York Giants are set at, it is at running back. After lacking a true workhorse for almost a decade, the Giants changed that last year. The Giants drafted the running back out of Penn State Saquon Barkley with the 2nd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Saquon Barkley was sensational in his rookie season. Barkley ran for 1,307 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He was also efficient in the passing game totaling 721 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. This incredible season earned Saquon the honors of Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Giants struck gold by selecting Saquon Barkley. They also have a decent running back playing behind Saquon, Wayne Gallman. It is common for NFL teams nowadays to have multiple versatile running backs on the roster to add depth and constant danger to defenses. If the Giants want to create a three-headed monster in their backfield, they might be able to do so in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Giants could look to reunite Saquon Barkley with a former teammate.

What Miles Sanders Could Bring To The Giants

Miles Sanders is a shifty running back in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Saquon’s alma mater, Penn State. After Saquon moved on to the NFL in 2018, Sanders took over as Penn State’s full time running back. In 2018, Miles Sanders was incredible for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

In 2018, Miles Sanders ran for an impeccable 1,274 yards and 9 touchdowns. Miles averaged 5.8 yards per carry. He was a pure runner as he did not contribute much in the passing game with only 139 receiving yards. However, this could be exactly what the Giants need.

Saquon Barkley is a do-it-all running back. He can play every single down and do whatever he is asked at a better level than anyone else. But the last thing the Giants want is for Saquon Barkley to get worn down. It would be beneficiary for the Giants to add another running back to take some of the workloads from Barkley.

Miles Sanders would be perfect for this. Look at the New Orleans Saints in 2018: Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. Kamara is a do-it-all running back who is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Ingram is a strong, downhill runner. This combination was a perfect balance in New Orleans’ backfield.

If the Giants were to draft Miles Sanders, he could go in when Saquon is fatigued and be a solid rusher. Saquon would of course still be used on third downs and all receiving situations, but it would no longer be necessary for him to play every snap in every situation. If the Giants can land Miles Sanders in the middle rounds of the draft, he could be exactly what they need to elevate the offense and maximize Saquon Barkley’s talented career.

New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Already Leading Fantasy Mock Drafts

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New York Giants running back, Saquon Barkley.

Are you a fan of the New York Giants that would like to have the team’s star running back, Saquon Barkley, on your fantasy team? Unless you happen to have the first overall pick, you just might be out of luck. Barkley was one of the top running backs in the league last season and that’s translated to big expectations this season. That goes for both the realm of the actual game and the realm of fantasy football.

It’s not hard to see why Barkley is so highly rated, thanks to his participation in both the passing and the running games for the Giants, and according to NFL.com’s Michael Fabiano, there’s no better player in the league for fantasy football than Barkley. In his first five round mock draft of the offseason, Barkley was ranked as the number one overall player.

Here’s what Fabiano had to say about the Giants running back.

Barkley is coming off a historic rookie season that saw him finish first in PPR points among running backs. A touch monster who could tote the rock over 400 times now that the Giants have parted ways with Odell Beckham Jr., Barkley is going to emerge into the consensus No. 1 overall selection at a position that is talented at the top.

Barkley finished last season with numbers that were nearly impossibly good for a rookie on a bad team with a poor offensive line, to the tune of 1,307 rushing yards and 721 receiving yards.

It definitely looks like Barkley will have more tools to succeed this season, playing behind an improved offensive line featuring newly traded for left guard Kevin Zeitler, and, depending on how things go during the rest of the offseason, a possible new face at right tackle.

With things not looking so great this season, Barkley’s greatness may be one of the few things legitimately worth looking forward to this year for fans of the Giants.

New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Not The Only Young Leader On Offense

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The New York Giants have been surrounded by controversy in the media recently. A lot of the controversy stems from the Giants’ quarterback position. Eli Manning is 38 years old, meaning the Giants need to find their next franchise quarterback sooner than later.

However, Eli’s age is not the only reason that fans and analysts want to see the Giants find a new quarterback. Many have been placing the blame of last season’s 5-11 finish on Eli Manning. Many members of the New York Giants have been coming out and defending their quarterback, like head coach Pat Shurmur and superstar running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley spoke out and defended Eli Manning and was instantly praised as a leader. Being Barkley is heading into his second NFL season, it is great to see him be such a vocal leader this early in his career. However, Saquon Barkley is not the only young leader on the New York Giants’ offense.

Will Hernandez Is Proving To Be A Leader

Saquon Barkley was the Giants’ 1st round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Their 2nd round selection was the powerful left guard Will Hernandez out of Texas El-Paso.

Will Hernandez was a tremendous acquisition for the Giants. Hernandez was arguably the best player on the Giants’ offensive line in his rookie season. In 2018, Hernandez finished with the 2nd highest rookie grade at his position according to Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 65.8.

After Saquon Barkley’s public defense for his quarterback, Will Hernandez decided to do the same via Instagram:

It is clear that the Giants have not given up on Eli Manning just yet, even if the media has. Not the team brass, the coaches, or the players. Eli Manning still has respect from his team and has their full support. It is good to see the young Giants players show respect to a Giants legend like Manning.

Showing public support for a heavily scrutinized teammate is step one to becoming a team leader. Will Hernandez and Saquon Barkley will probably both wear captain’s patches one day. The lasting impact from these players as performers and captains will be a true testament to how good Dave Gettleman’s 2018 NFL Draft truly was.

New York Giants: Eyeing The Positives in a Beckham-less Giants Offense

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants organization changed drastically the night of March 12th when General Manager Dave Gettleman traded away star player Odell Beckham Jr. Whether that change is positive or negative remains to be seen, the reality of the situation is that it’s simply too early to come to any rational conclusion.

The claims suggesting the Giants will be in a worse position after trading Beckham are premature considering we are still 6 months away from watching the 2019 Giants hit the field on Sunday.

One could argue that the Giants offense will be just fine without Beckham considering that the offense performed better in the four games he missed due to a season-ending quad injury. Despite an abysmal shutout to the Titans in week 15, the Giants still managed to average 26.4ppg. That production came out to over a 4 point increase from their 22.2ppg when Beckham was in the lineup. Erasing the outlier in week 15, the Giants averaged a total of 33ppg in the 4 other games they played without Odell to end the season.

It has been proven time and time again that a star receiver is not a necessity to a championship roster. What’s more important is to distribute that wealth among a variety of solid NFL players, modeling the New England Patriots.

A Look At What’s Left:

For starters, there’s All-Pro running back sensation Saquon Barkley, who is now considered the face of the franchise with Beckham’s absence. There is not much else that needs to be said about the Rookie of the Year and Ground player of the Year… The Giants landed an absolute stud. Now let’s consider the following:

Love it or hate it, what is often forgot about the offense is that former GM Jerry Reese prioritized drafting skill position players during his tenure. Electric tight end Evan Engram (‘17 Rd1) and receiver Sterling Shepard (‘16 Rd2) have both shown tremendous upside while wearing blue. When healthy, Evan Engram is a top tight end in the NFL. For the 2018 season, his grade of 76.5 was the third highest on the offense. Trailing only Odell Beckham (90) and Saquon Barkley (85.9), according to Pro Football Focus.

Engram would have graded much higher had the season been split in two. From weeks 1-8, while plagued with all sorts of injury, Engram’s average PFF grade was a 54.8. After the bye week, a healthier Engram performed at an elite level, earning a 91.7 overall grade for his performance during weeks 9-17.

As for Shepard, he finished 5th on the offense with a PFF grade of 67.3. Aside from his receiving, it is also his effort in blocking which makes him a valuable piece to the offense. Check out his key blocks against the Redskins when the Giants cruised to a 40-17 win in week 14:

The Addition of Golden Tate:

After letting the dust settle the first day of free agency, the Giants made their splash signing established wide receiver Golden Tate to a four-year deal, worth up to $37.5 million with $23 million guaranteed. Tate, who essentially played on a half-season rental for the Eagles, played his previous four seasons with the Detroit Lions. In Detroit, he was a force to be reckoned with tallying over 90 catches in each of those years. Tate finished the 2018 season with 74 catches and 4 touchdowns. While playing in two separate offenses, Tate earned a respectable 71.1 PFF grade.

No wide receiver has accumulated more yards after the catch (1,672) than Tate over the past three seasons, making it obvious why he is widely recognized as the #YACKing.

The Kevin Zeitler Trade:

In perhaps the most successful move of the offseason, the Giants acquired premier right guard Kevin Zeitler from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for edge rusher Olivier Vernon. With trades trending upward in the NFL, this certainly qualified as a win-win for both the Browns and the Giants. The Giants, whom everyone assumed would cut Vernon, got exceptional value from him in Zeitler. The right Guard graded out as PFF’s #1 pass protecting guard in the NFL with a 91.7.

For reference, guards Patrick Omameh and Jamon Brown allowed a combined 39 pressures in only 14 games last year. Zeitler allowed just 11 pressures through 16 starts.

Zeitler brings stability to an offensive line that was already greatly improved from years prior. GM Dave Gettleman has made countless promises to revamp the offensive line, and bringing in an elite guard like Zeitler does just that.

Bottom Line:

While the jury is still out on whether or not the New York Giants need Odell Beckham Jr, it’s more important to understand that the offense is only going to go as far as the offensive line takes them. We have seen over the years that it is not so much the players around Eli, but the ones who protect him that dictate which version of “Eli” we are going to see on a game to game basis.

While a young quarterback is ultimately in the works, the Giants have put themselves in position to have a very respectable supporting cast for whoever is under center in the future.

 

New York Giants: Empire Sports Media’s 7 Round Giants Mock Draft Version 1.0

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The NFL Draft is quickly approaching. Fans, analysts, players, and coaches are all eagerly looking forward to the 2019 NFL Draft. On April 25, the NFL Draft begins.

The New York Giants are heading into a crucial draft for the franchise’s future. After passing on a quarterback in 2018 for the generational running back, Saquon Barkley, there is a lot of speculation as to whether or not the Giants will take on this year.

This year’s quarterback class is much weaker than last years. However, this year’s defensive class is one of the best in recent memory. This will put the Giants at a crossroads as they hold 12 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. Will they address positions of need or simply take the best player available with every pick?

In Empire Sports Media’s first mock draft of 2019, I will attempt to predict who the Giants will draft in all 7 rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft. I will provide detailed explanations for the first three picks.

Round 1, Pick 6: Dwayne Haskins Jr., Quarterback, Ohio State

Recent rumors came out recently stating that the Giants were not interested in Dwayne Haskins. Those rumors all went to rest on Wednesday at Dwayne Haskins’s Pro Day.

The Giants did not hide their interest one bit, sending Head Coach Pat Shurmur, Assistant GM Kevin Abrams, VP of Player Evaluation Chris Mara, and other scouts and coaches to Ohio State.

Dwayne Haskins even said during an interview that the Giants were interested in him. The Giants also had dinner with Haskins the night prior to his Pro Day.

It is easy to see why the Giants are interested in Dwayne Haskins. The Ohio State quarterback was incredible during his junior year. He threw a Big Ten record 50 touchdown passes to only 8 interceptions. He also had a Big Ten record 4,831 passing yards.

Haskins is a pro-style, pocket passing quarterback. He has the accuracy and arm strength to make every throw, as well as the high football-IQ to beat opponents with his mind by reading coverages and calling protections. Haskins reads defenses better than any other quarterback in this draft class.

Dwayne Haskins is the perfect quarterback for the New York Giants. While Kyler Murray might be the more intriguing prospect, he is not likely to fall past the 1st overall pick and is also not likely to fit Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman’s quarterback mold.

Dwayne Haskins has also said he is happy to sit behind and learn from Eli Manning. Manning and Haskins have a similar, pocket-passing playstyle, so Haskins should be able to find comfort and success immediately with the New York Giants. Manning is 38 years old and likely only has one season left, so Haskins will not need to wait long.

In all likely-hood, the Giants will probably need to trade up to secure Dwayne Haskins. The Jets are the most likely trade partner at the 3rd overall pick. However, it is difficult to say what the Giants would need to give up in this trade. The Jets gave up 3 second round picks last year to make the same trade, but the Giants only have 2 second round picks.

This means the Giants would either need to throw in a 1st, a 3rd and 4th, or a player. Since it is so difficult to predict this trade, I have decided to create this mock draft with no trades. As we get closer to the draft I will consider predicting trades in my mock drafts.

Round 1, Pick 17: Cody Ford, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma

The New York Giants’ offensive line rebuild is nearly complete. There are only missing one more position: right tackle. Cody Ford played right tackle at Oklahoma. Some NFL analysts think he will play guard in the NFL, but if he is drafted by the Giants, he will need to play right tackle.

With all of the defensive talent in the 2019 NFL Draft class, it will be hard for the Giants to pass on an impact-defender at 17. However, Ford has an extremely high ceiling at a position of dire need for the Giants.

Cody Ford is an extremely agile offensive tackle. His quickness allows him to stay in front of speed rushers and protect his quarterback. Ford also has the strength and power to contribute in the run game. Dave Gettleman’s love for “hog mollies” is probably too big to pass up on a versatile lineman like Cody Ford.

Below is a clip of Cody Ford showing off his quickness in pass protection:

Here is a play where Cody Ford absolutely dominated his opponent in the run game (Ford is number 74):

The Giants might look to trade up with this pick to take an elite defender. Or, if the Giants trade up from 6 to 3, they might try to trade back from 17 to get the assets back that they lost in the trade for the 3rd pick. If the Giants are unable to make any trades, they will be more than happy to draft Cody Ford.

Round 2, Pick 37: Jaylon Ferguson, Edge Defender, LA Tech

As badly as I wanted to pair former Ohio State wide receiver Paris Campbell with Dwayne Haskins here, I could not go 3 picks into this draft without taking a defender. The Giants have so many holes on defense. They need to find defensive starters in the draft. The Giants cannot wait until the 3rd round to take a defender.

Thus, the Giants take Jaylon Ferguson in the second round of this mock draft. The Giants traded away their best edge defender, Olivier Vernon, in the 2019 offseason. Vernon simply did not produce enough sacks with the Giants. Not to mention he was being paid a high salary and was consistently injured.

Jaylon Ferguson would be a perfect replacement for Olivier Vernon. The Giants would go from getting a player who produces minimal sacks to having the NCAA record-holder for most sacks in a career. Ferguson totaled 45 sacks in 4 seasons at LA Tech.

In 2018, as a senior, Jaylon Ferguson totaled 26 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. Ferguson was an extremely productive player throughout his collegiate career. Ferguson is solid as a pass-rusher and a run-defender. He has strong hands and a big frame, allowing him to fight through contact and get to the ball-carrier.

A tandem of Lorenzo Carter and Jaylon Furgeson could give the Giants one of the best, young defensive cores in the NFL. Both have the potential to be great players in the NFL.

Round 3, Pick 95: Daniel Wise, Interior Defensive Lineman, Kansas

Round 4, Pick 108: Dillon Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Oregon

Round 4, Pick 132: Kendall Sheffield, Cornerback, Ohio State

Round 5, Pick 142: Gary Johnson, Linebacker, Texas

Round 5, Pick 143: Tyree St. Louis, Offensive Tackle, Miami

Round 6, Pick 171: Mike Edwards, Safety, Kentucky

Round 6, Pick 180:  Austin Bryant, Edge Defender, Clemson

Round 7, Pick 232: Phil Haynes, Offensive Guard, Wake Forest

Round 7, Pick 245: Foster Moreau, Tight End, Louisiana State

New York Giants: What Trading Odell Beckham Jr. Means For Saquon Barkley

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

It’s safe to say that having two generational players on a single team is far better than just one. The New York Giants enjoyed that reality for one season, having both Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley on the field. However, they couldn’t help the Giants avoid another disappointing season falling to 3-13.

The reality is, not even two generational players could mask the deficiencies on the offensive line and defense. General manager Dave Gettleman made it clear recently that a team can win during a rebuild, and that’s what he tends to do with Big Blue. Unfortunately, his plan didn’t start out too hot last year, and proceeding to trade away a fan favorite to acquire a mid-first-round pick and Jabrill Peppers didn’t make much sense.

What does Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure mean for Saquon Barkley?

Although the Giants’ star running back is only going into his second year in the NFL, he’s already emerged as a leader on the team. Pure talent doesn’t go unnoticed, which is why Beckham was such a force in the locker room. His past antics certainly played a part in the demise of the team, but Barkley is a different breed.

The 22-year-old has established himself as a voice of reason, consoling players on the sidelines during tough games and motivating them to succeed in moments of significance. He will fill the shoes of ‘leader’ quite well, but the production on offense is a major concern.

Losing Beckham essentially forces the Giants to operate without their most lethal red-zone target and open field playmaker. Now, they must rely on Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram to make a majority of plays in the passing game. A major downgrade from Beckham to Tate highlights this fixture.

The changing of the guard:

But, Barkley now has the authority on offense, as he will be the focal point in the run and pass game. You’d better believe Gettleman will run his workhorse back into the ground until the last bit of value and life has been extracted from his massive quads. That’s the style of football he likes to play – smashmouth, run game-centric, hog mollie ridden ball.

The only way trading Beckham makes sense is if the Giants manage to turn the No. 17 overall pick in the draft into an influential player, otherwise, they will have consumed $16 million in dead cap to give up their best player for a box of stale Lays potato chips and a week old Mcflurry.

The moment Beckham was traded from the team that drafted him in 2014, he called Barkley, hoping that it was all a dream.

“We talked over Facetime, he had just gotten traded, so I don’t think he was really happy about it,” Barkley told NJ Advance Media. “He just gave me some advice about how to handle stuff in the league. He was the same old big brother to me that he’s always been.”

Moving forward, we have no choice but to have faith in Gettleman and his plan. There’s no escaping what’s to come, so the best we can do is stay positive and thank the football gods every night that we have Saquon Barkley.

New York Giants: Here’s How Saquon Barkley Heard About The Beckham Trade

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New York Giants, Odell Beckham Jr., Saquon Barkley

Almost one week out from the trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns along with Olivier Vernon, in return for two draft picks and safety Jabrill Peppers, more information is still coming out. In this case, it’s yet another reaction, not from one of the many analysts in the media but from one of the star players of the New York Giants’ roster.

That player is Saquon Barkley, who was known to have good chemistry with Beckham during the one season that the two played together. It’s reasonable to wonder what Barkley’s reaction to the trade would be. After all, playing with Beckham is one of the things that Barkley was on the record as looking forward to, after being drafted by the Giants. Now, the dynamic pair has been broken up and it seemingly came by a complete surprise.

But how did Barkley get the news?

Unsurprisingly, it happened over the phone.

“We talked over Facetime, he had just gotten traded, so I don’t think he was really happy about it. He just gave me some advice about how to handle stuff in the league. He was the same old big brother to me that he’s always been.” Barkley told NJ Advanced Media, while speaking at Penn State’s pro day. According to rumors, Beckham was in Paris at the time that the trade went down.

Now that Beckham is off the team and Eli Manning is getting towards the end of his career, it looks like Barkley really is the centerpiece player for the Giants. A shift back to a running identity might not be the worst thing in the world, but it does mean that there’s more pressure on Barkley, who is only a sophomore in the league, to perform and act as the face of the franchise.

That’s something that Barkley acknowledges and welcomes…

“I have to grow as a leader more. Whether it’s being a vocal leader or leading by example, it’s a team effort. We have to have other players grow as leaders, continue to believe in each other.”

The Giants had something of a vocal leader with Beckham, but Barkley has always been more of a strong but silent type, even during his days playing with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Will Barkley live up to the increased expectations? We’ll see, but Barkley did respond to pressure exceptionally during a historically good rookie season.

New York Giants: Why New Guard Kevin Zeitler Is A Tremendous Acquisition

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New York Giants, Kevin Zeitler

As New York Giants fans know, general manager Dave Gettleman loves his “hog mollies.” On Friday, the Giants made a major trade. The Giants traded edge rusher Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for one of the NFL’s top offensive guards.

That hog molly was right guard Kevin Zeitler. The Browns were reportedly shopping Zeitler earlier in the week and even tried to send him to the Giants in exchange for Odell Beckham Jr. However, the Giants laughed at that offer and completed a much better trade on Friday.

What Makes Zeitler Such A Huge Upgrade?

Kevin Zeitler has been impressively durable and consistent. These are two traits the Giants have not seen from their most recent offensive guards for a few years now. Zeitler has started 72 straight games and has not missed a snap since week 13 of the 2015 NFL season.

On top of all this, Zeitler is arguably the best pass-blocking guard in the entire NFL. He finished with the league’s highest pass blocking grade (91.7) out of any guard in 2018 according to Pro Football Focus.

To compare Zeitler’s efficient play to that of the Giants’ 2018 offensive line: Zeitler let up 11 pressures all season while Jamon Brown and Patrick Omameh let up a combined 39. That is 28 plays that the Giants missed out on as Eli Manning was milliseconds from being smothered by a gargantuan defensive lineman.

Things should change now with Kevin Zeitler in the mix. His efficient pass-blocking will give Eli Manning more time to read the field.

Eli will not be the only one benefiting from this trade. Running back Saquon Barkley will benefit from playing behind Kevin Zeitler, too. While pass-blocking is his specialty, Zeitler is not a poor run-blocker.

Overall, Zeitler is an improvement on the Giants’ offensive line in every way possible. He is more durable than any other right guard and much more efficient in pass protection.

Rising star Will Hernandez will be looking to make progress in his second season. Expect the Giants to have one of the NFL’s best guard duos in 2019 with Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler.

Check out this highlight of Kevin Zeitler below: