3 Most Likely Saquon Barkley Replacements if the Giants Let Him Walk in Free Agency
By Jovan Alford
![Jan 7, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) Jan 7, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5601,h_3150,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/210/01hn3ss4gb50e640910x.jpg)
3. Ezekiel Elliott
If New York won’t pay up for Barkley, we shouldn’t expect them to give a lucrative multi-year deal to other top free-agent RBs such as Tony Pollard Jr., Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler, or D’Andre Swift.
Therefore, the Giants will have to go after guys such as Edwards-Helaire or Ezekiel Elliott, who showed that he still has some tread left on his tires this season with the New England Patriots.
The former Dallas Cowboys running back had 642 yards on 184 carries and three touchdowns, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. Even though his YPC average wasn’t great – Elliott kept the chains moving and stepped up as the Pats starting running back when Rhamondre Stevenson went down with an injury.
Elliott also showed he can be a playmaker in the passing game with 51 receptions (65 targets) for 313 yards and two touchdowns. Therefore, I’d be shocked to see Elliott sign with another NFC East, not named the Cowboys.
However, he won’t have the most impressive market in free agency as there are a lot of top and mid-tier running backs. But the Giants could offer Ezekiel a chance to start a few games and be a part of a running back by committee with a rookie.
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