NFC East rookie comparison: Derrius Guice vs. Saquon Barkley

New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley

There’s a reason Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall. And there is a reason the Giants passed on stability at quarterback for a flashy solution at running back.

Saquon Barkley, first and foremost, offers immense athletic upside. He’s impressively agile for his 5-foot-11, 230 size. His athleticism was very evident at the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash, logged a 41.0 inch vertical jump, and a 4.24 20-yard shuttle time.

Barkley’s value comes from this, as well as his style and his multipurpose ability. Barkley is incredibly elusive, possessing the ability to create for himself with his balance, quickness, and vision. He takes some angles on cuts that shouldn’t be possible, and his ability to change directions will be valuable in the NFL.

Barkley is also an able pass catcher and a proven kick returner. He totaled over 100 receptions and 1,000 yards in his collegiate career, accruing 52 receptions, 632 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in his junior season. In his final season, he also logged 15 kick returns, which went for 426 yards and two touchdowns. Barkley even threw the ball in college, completing two of two attempts for 36 yards and a touchdown. There’s nothing this guy can’t do.

While Barkley’s physical traits bode well for him at the next level, there are some areas where he can improve. Barkley isn’t as decisive a runner as Derrius Guice is, and in the Giants’ offensive line, with holes will close faster. The additions of Nate Solder and Will Hernandez will help, but the former is an aging, relatively inconsistent left tackle, and while Hernandez is a grinder in the running game, the positions to his right consist of players such as Brett Jones, John Jerry, and Ereck Flowers. That’s not a great offensive line, especially on the strong side, and that weakness will force Barkley to create for himself in the backfield more often than he might want to.

It’s also fair to question how Eli Manning will use Barkley. We know that Shurmur will make the most of Barkley’s addition. The team’s new coach is known for utilizing the receiving talents of running backs. Shurmur joined the Minnesota Vikings staff in 2016, and that year, Jerick McKinnon saw his receptions go up from 21 in 2015 to 43 in 2016, and 51 in 2017.

Shurmur will mold his offense around Barkley’s talents, sparing no expense. With his athleticism and all-around talent, Barkley can line up anywhere, serving as a valuable chess piece for the team’s offensive cast. Additionally, both Shurmur and Gruden are expected to employ run-pass options in the coming season. Barkley, in particular, will be particularly versatile and dangerous in this situations. The inefficiencies on the offensive line will only effect him if he’s running behind them. With the option in play, Shurmur can be creative, in terms of how he uses Barkley.

Unlike the Washington Redskins, Barkley doesn’t have a reliable compliment at running back, so the team must be careful that they don’t overextend him. Granted, that will be hard to do with Barkley. But it’s possible for every player, and although the Giants can use Jonathan Stewart as a short-yardage, change of pace back, they lack the cast of contributors as running back that can keep players fresh and ready to run.

Guice and Barkley both have prime opportunities to showcase their talents in places where they are needed, but Barkey’s production will hinge more on the players around him. Eli Manning is aging, and last year, he had a season where he was average enough to lose the starting job. Although he gained it back again, it’s clear that he’s not the same quarterback he once was, and it’s fair to wonder how effectively he’ll be able to use Barkley. Barkley has a high floor, due to his talent. But if Manning can’t consistently give him the ball on passing downs, then his value will go down.

Barkley comes into the NFL with immense pressure on his shoulders. After being drafted No. 2 overall, Barkley will be expected to compete with the best from the very first snap. While these expectations might be tempered for a supremely talented running back who trains every day to make sure he’s ready, his circumstances in New York at least question how well he can mesh with the personnel in year one.

In recent years, first-round running backs have not disappointed by any means. But each year, there have been later round running backs who have nearly matched, or even exceeded first-rounders. In 2016, when Ezekiel Elliot led the NFL in rushing yards, Jordan Howard wasn’t far behind with the Bears. And in 2017, while Leonard Fournette had a nice 1,000-yard season, it was third-round running back Kareem Hunt who led the league in rushing production. Draft status does not determine production. Barkley has the talent to produce right away, but Guice is not far behind in this regard, and his situation might be more favorable.