Saquon Barkley is in danger of holding out in 2023. These three running backs could help the Giants live without their star rusher.
The chances of Saquon Barkley sitting out games in 2023 appear greater than ever after Monday's deadline for franchise tag players to sign an extension passed.
The Giants reportedly extended an offer that met Barkley's desire for guaranteed money but reduced the yearly average value for the deal as well. So it doesn't feel like the team and the player are on the same page about much at this point.
Now New York has a dilemma on their hands: Do they risk Barkley holding out? Or do they get proactive and lock in an alternative?
Here are some options if they decide to move on…
No. 3 running back the Giants should target for life without Saquon Barkley: Kareem Hunt
There are a bunch of free agent running backs out there looking for new homes. Kareem Hunt is one of the better ones, or more accurately, he could be.
Hunt exploded for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie with the Chiefs but he's never been able to recreate those numbers. He had 824 yards in 2018, then missed significant time to injuries once he moved to Cleveland.
As Nick Chubb's backup during the 2021 season, Hunt rushed for just 386 yards, but delivered 4.9 yards per carry. His campaign was shortened by injury. However, he managed just 3.8 yards per carry in 2022 in 17 games.
So his most recent output wasn't great, but there may still be juice left in the tank.
The fact that Hunt hasn't signed somewhere yet suggests he, like most of the other high profile backs out there, aren't getting the contract offers they'd hope for.
No. 2 running back the Giants should target for life without Saquon Barkley: Ezekiel Elliott
The Cowboys cut Ezekiel Elliott after watching his efficiency slip in 2022 while Tony Pollard emerged as a viable option to lead the ground game. That doesn't mean he couldn't be an effective starter for a team like the Giants.
Last season was the worst of his career and he still managed 876 yards and 12 touchdowns. In terms of finding a replacement for Barkley, one of the best backs in the league, the free agent market doesn't have many better to offer.
Again, a willingness to take a deal at the market rate, which is lower than any of these backs would like, is the biggest barrier to seeing Elliott find a place in New York.
At the same time, the Giants can offer him an undisputed No. 1 starting role. There aren't too many other teams out there with that ability given other figures on their roster.
Realistically, the way to stock the running back position these days is to hit on guys in the draft. So picking up Elliott on a two-year deal would give the Giants time to focus their energy in the draft while still starting a productive back in the short term.
No. 1 running back the Giants should target for life without Saquon Barkley: Dalvin Cook
When it comes down to it, the closest the Giants could get to having a running back of Saquon Barkley's caliber in their backfield is Dalvin Cook.
Cook matched Barkley's 4.4 yards per carry from 2022, totalling 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns while playing in all 17 games for the first time in his career.
Yes, some of his efficiency numbers took a dip, but the fact is, without the unique combination of the Vikings cap issues and his upper-end contract, he'd still be in Minnesota.
Teams just don't want to pay $12 million per year for a running back these days, no matter how good they may be. That's exactly why Barkley and the Giants are in this mess.
So Cook is the best back out there. Is he better than Barkley? No. He's also two years older. But the numbers could make sense if the market continues to hold down running back contracts.
Miles Sanders, who had 1,269 yards on 4.9 yards per carry last year, got the most lucrative deal of the offseason so far at $6.2 million per year over four years, with just $13 million guaranteed. David Montgomery got $6 million per year. Jamaal Williams got $4 million per year.
If the Giants could get Cook at anything in that ballpark, it would make a whole lot of sense to rescind Barkley's franchise tag tender and just move on.
