As it is with quarterback Daniel Jones, the New York Giants do not appear to be close with running back Saquon Barkley on a new deal.
With free agency just around the corner, that means the Giants and general manager Joe Schoen are facing quite a bit of uncertainty. And if they lose Barkley on the open market, that will thrust them into the hunt for a new running back.
One potential option is Texas running back Bijan Robinson, with whom the Giants met at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Perhaps somewhat ironically, the pro comparison most often given to Robinson is Barkley himself. However, Robinson views himself more as a Barry Sanders.
“I’m a knee-bender when I run the ball, and another guy who was a knee-bender was Barry Sanders,” Robinson told reporters at the combine. “To try to redirect, to try to be as low to the ground as you can and understand you’ve got to feel defenders and read their shoulders and read angles, to try to break as many tackles as you can. … I take pride in that.
“I’m trying to dissect it, trying to create open holes, create lanes for myself no matter what it is, eight in the box, nine in the box, seven in the box. I’m just trying always to find ways.”
Robinson is considered a top 10 prospect and some even have him as high as top 5, but does that mean he’ll get drafted at the top of the first round? Debate continues to swirl regarding the value of running backs in the modern NFL and how much should be invested in them.
With no Dave Gettleman around to take that gamble, there is a chance that Robinson could fall all the way to the Giants at No. 25.
