Giants’ Saquon Barkley feels Trace McSorley was disrespected at NFL Combine

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley faced an uphill battle at the 2019 NFL Combine, competing alongside the likes of Kyler Murray, Drew Lock and Dwayne Haskins to name a few. And in an effort to combat that, some NFL teams requested that he take part in defensive back drills.

McSorley, who remains committed to the quarterback position, declined those requests.

Penn State QB Trace McSorley was asked at the NFL’s scouting combine to also work out with the defensive backs on Monday but he declined, saying he is concentrating on being a quarterback as he heads into next month’s draft, sources tell @Jeff_Legwold and me.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2019

After learning of the request for McSorley to run defensive back drills, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who played alongside McSorley at Penn State, took to Twitter to express his displeasure.

So disrespectful… https://t.co/7fZEYlmVxx

— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) March 2, 2019

Barkley has remained in McSorley’s corner since being taken No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, making sure to take in several Penn State games and even going as far as to say the quarterback is “the greatest to ever put on a Penn State uniform.”

But the request was really more about versatility than anything else, and McSorley wasn’t alone. Several other prospects were asked to run drills at different positions.

Teams can request players at #NFLCombine to work out at 2nd position. It gives you insight as to how player is viewed. Some requests this year:

QB Nick Fitzgerald (TE)
QB Trace McSorely (DB)
RB Devin Singletary (WR)
WR Hakeem Butler (TE)
DT Ed Oliver (LB)
DT Dre'Mont Jones (LB)

— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 2, 2019

At the end of the day, McSorley is sticking to his guns and he continues to have the support of Barkley. What that will mean heading into the 2019 NFL Draft is anyone’s guess, but McSorley insists he can excel as a quarterback at the next level.