Giants bolster offense by selecting Barkley with No. 2 pick

The New York Giants have selected running back Saquon Barkley out of Penn State with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Barkley is the highest selected running back since the New Orleans Saints took Reggie Bush with the second pick in 2006.

A phenomenal talent in the open field, Barkley will immediately take reps as the first-team running back and should provide the Giants with another outstanding pass catcher coming out of the backfield.

Barkley's combination of speed, size, power, and field vision had many analysts rating him as the best running back prospect to enter the league in a generation.

Paired with Odell Beckham, Evan Engram, and Sterling Shepard, Barkley figures to be a key component of a resurgent Giants team.

Saquon Barkley Bio

Position: RB
School: Penn State
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 233 lbs

Strengths

• Rare blend of size, speed, and power.
• Exceptional agility. Able to consistently make defenders miss both at the line of scrimmage and on the second level.
• Explosive and a constant home-run threat as a runner, receiver, and returner.
• Solid receiving skills. Smooth route-runner with significant room to develop.
• Willing pass protector and shows solid strength and technique when dealing with blitzing defenders. Never has to leave the field.

Weaknesses

• A tendency to try to do too much in the backfield. Will need to learn to be more decisive against NFL-caliber athletes.
• Too often bounces runs to the outside, looking for game-breaking plays when solid yards are available.
• Playing style lacks physicality and aggressiveness.

Athletic testing