New York Giants Offseason: Reviewing the Running Back Position

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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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Free Agency: Jerick McKinnon, Isaiah Crowell, Jeremy Hill

NFL Draft: Saquon Barkley, Royce Freeman, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, Kerryon Johnson, Rashaad Penny, Josh Adams

Unfortunately, the New York Giants won’t be signing Le’Veon Bell. He won’t even be a consideration considering how much money he’s looking for. Therefore, if Big Blue is looking to add a running back in free agency, they’ll have to shop in the second and third tiers.

I mentioned that Wayne Gallman could play a Jerick McKinnon-type role in Pat Shurmur’s offense. Well, Shurmur might disagree or just prefer to have the real thing. Shurmur knows what kind of player and person McKinnon is from their time together in Minnesota and could look to bring him to the Big Apple.

McKinnon excels as a runner and receiver and teamed with Latavius Murray this past season to seamlessly replace Dalvin Cook after the stud rookie tore his ACL.

Bell is too expensive and the next best option, Carlos Hyde, may also be too pricey for Big Blue. Isaiah Crowell, however, could fit into the Giants’ financial plans.

Lost in the mess that is the Cleveland Browns, Crowell has flown relatively under the radar despite putting up solid numbers over the last few years. He’s never had a 1,000-yard season but that could work in the Giants favor financially.

Over his four-year career, Crowell has a 4.2 yards per carry average, 21 rushing touchdowns, and has never missed a game. Crowell’s best season was in 2016 when he ran for 952 yards (4.8 avg) and seven touchdowns. He also added 40 receptions for another 319 yards.

If the Giants let Orleans Darkwa walk, Isaiah Crowell could be a nice replacement.

Another potential replacement for Darkwa if he signs elsewhere is Jeremy Hill. Hill won’t be returning to Cincinnati after falling behind Gio Bernard and Joe Mixon on the depth chart and getting called out by head coach Marvin Lewis for having season-ending ankle surgery in 2017.

Hill’s best season was his rookie year in 2014 when he ran for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. He also scored 11 touchdowns in 2015 and nine touchdowns in 2016.

Hill is a big bruising back at 6’1 230 lb. and could be interested in coming to New York to reunite with Odell Beckham Jr. Teammates at LSU, Hill and OBJ are good friends.

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If the Giants are going to look to the NFL Draft to add a running back, there are plenty of quality options.

Saquon Barkley is the most talented prospect in the entire draft and if the Cleveland Browns take a quarterback first overall, New York could take Barkley second overall.

If Big Blue wants to add a running back in the second or third round, Royce Freeman, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, and Kerryon Johnson are all solid options.

Freeman, Chubb, and Johnson are bigger backs whereas Michel is speedier and has gotten Alvin Kamara comps.

If the Giants continue their trend of taking running backs on Day 3 (Andre Williams, Paul Perkins, Wayne Gallman), Rashaad Penny and Josh Adams would be their top options.

Penny had a great week at the Senior Bowl, showing his all-around talent, and Adams led Notre Dame’s offense with 1,430 yards and nine touchdowns in 2017.

Next: New York Giants Offseason: Reviewing the QBs

If Orleans Darkwa re-signs with the New York Giants, they could stick with him and Wayne Gallman and have a respectable backfield duo. If Darkwa leaves, there are plenty of options to replace him. And if Saquon Barkley is available at No. 2 overall, he’ll be tough to pass up.

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