Why the Giants Must Draft RB Saquon Barkley's Successor in the 2023 NFL Draft

In an NFL offseason unfavorable to running backs, Saquon Barkley may feel the sting of a sluggish market.

This past season, Barkley had his most productive year since his rookie term, but he's battled injuries, missing 21 games between 2019 and 2021. Can the Giants rely on him in a prominent role for the foreseeable future? The jury is still out on that, which is why the club should go with a less costly player at a position with high turnover across the league.

According to Kim Jones of Newsday, Barkley won't sign his $10.1 million franchise tag, which means he's not eligible to participate in the New York Giants' voluntary workouts that start on Monday.

More importantly, Barkley's refusal to sign the tender may lead to a rocky spring-summer period with the team.

As Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano pointed out, Barkley has now made it known that he's dissatisfied with the idea of playing with the franchise tag, and that could lead to a holdout, though that's not the running back's expected course of action right now.

Vacchiano followed those comments on Twitter with some context from the Giants' side, which suggests that Barkley's future with the team seems uncertain.

If the Giants don't have much urgency in talks with Barkley, they may try to pivot from him by adding a much cheaper running back on a rookie deal.

You cannot blame the Giants if they take that plan of action. Barkley miscalculated his market.

On Wednesday, The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll noted that Barkley turned down multiple offers that would've made him one of the top-five highest-paid running backs in annual salary.

"Barkley turned down a multiyear offer worth $12.5 million per year during the 2022 season, a league source told The Athletic in March," Carroll wrote. "There were reports that the Giants increased that offer to around $13 million per year after the season."

Carroll also revealed that the previous offers from the Giants "no longer exist" after they decided to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on Barkley. Keep in mind that the club signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million extension with $104 million in total guarantees in March.

The Giants have until July 17 to strike a new deal with Barkley, who's one of five remaining franchise-tagged players with that deadline for a multiyear extension. Based on the current buzz around his negotiations with the team, he's more likely to play out the 2023 season with the one-year fully guaranteed $10.1 million deal.

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Like a few of the top running backs around the league, Barkley isn't feeling the love from his team or the market.

Josh Jacobs won the rushing title last season, and the Las Vegas Raiders franchise-tagged him. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the team is in a "contract holding pattern" with the running back's reps in negotiations.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Los Angeles Chargers have granted Austin Ekeler permission to seek a trade. In an interview with Sirius XM Fantasy, Ekeler said the team has cut off contract negotiations with him. Over the previous two years, he's led the league in touchdowns from scrimmage with 38.

Miles Sanders, who's coming off his most productive season with career highs in yards (1,347) and touchdowns (11) from scrimmage, signed the biggest deal among free-agent running backs on a four-year, $25 million pact with $13 million guaranteed with the Carolina Panthers. In terms of average annual value and guaranteed money, he's ninth and 12th, respectively, in earnings among running backs, per Over the Cap.

In Barkley's situation, he may see the Giants draft his replacement, which is a reasonable counter-plan in this franchise-tag standoff.

Big Blue has a pick in each of the first four rounds and three within the top 100, which will allow general manager Joe Schoen to find Barkley's potential successor.

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Of course, most teams in need of a running back will consider Bijan Robinson, who's the consensus top 2023 prospect at the position. The Texas product could go in the top 10, as Fox Sports' Joel Klatt projected in his most recent mock draft.

Robinson has mesmerizing moves on sharp cutbacks and jukes. He also shows uncanny contact balance while weaving through traffic. On top of that, the 5'11", 215-pounder can catch out of the backfield, hauling in 60 passes for 805 yards and eight touchdowns in three years as a Longhorn.

Robinson should be an immediate three-down playmaker on the pro level, but the Giants have more significant needs at premium positions—wide receiver and cornerback. Schoen may choose to address those positions with his first two picks.

Aside from Robinson, Big Blue will have other intriguing running back options on Day 2 and perhaps early on Day 3.

AP Photo/Vasha Hunt

If the Giants pick a wideout or cornerback in the first round and then follow up with a running back in the second round, Schoen should consider moving up for Jahmyr Gibbs, who's a threat to gash defenses on the ground and as a pass-catcher in open space.

At 5'9", 199 pounds, Gibbs may not be able to handle the physical demand of a featured running back role, but he'll make his 12-15 touches count with big plays.

In two years at Georgia Tech and one term at Alabama, Gibbs averaged 5.6 yards per carry and 11.7 yards per reception. Following his move to the SEC, he had his most productive campaign with a more talented supporting cast, rushing for 926 yards and seven touchdowns and hauling in 44 passes for 444 yards and three touchdowns.

Gibbs has 4.36-second speed, and his blazing quickness shows up on film. He isn't just a fast straight-line runner, though. As a fluid athlete on his feet, the shifty ball-carrier can stop, start, accelerate and cut on a dime while evading defenders.

Because of Gibbs' ability to line up as a receiver, he can complement Barkley to form a top-tier running back tandem in the Giants backfield before moving into a more prominent role alongside a bigger and less costly veteran back.

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

As an alternative running back plan, Big Blue can consider Zach Charbonnet in the second or third round.

Unlike Gibbs, Charbonnet has the frame to handle a high volume of touches. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he measured in at 6'0" and 214 pounds.

Charbonnet split his collegiate years between Michigan and UCLA, but he posted outstanding rushing numbers in Chip Kelly's offense, racking up 2,496 yards and 27 touchdowns with the Bruins. At UCLA, the big-bodied ball-carrier also put his pass-catching ability on display, hauling in 61 passes for 518 yards.

As you would imagine for a player his size, Charbonnet will break some tackles. He'll use his explosive lower-body strength to push piles and drive defenders backward if they don't wrap him up. Nonetheless, opponents shouldn't dismiss his elusiveness as he sets up his blocks and finds running lanes in traffic.

Barkley and Charbonnet would present a unique physical challenge for defenders. If Big Blue ultimately parts ways with the former, the latter can handle a sizeable role and contribute in the short passing game as the featured running back.

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Schoen can also find a sleeper option in Tank Bigsby, who received a fourth-round grade from Bleacher Report scout Derrik Klassen.

Klassen has concerns about Bigsby's undisciplined run style and subpar pass protection, though, on the positive side, the Auburn product would bring an explosive component to the Giants' ground attack.

Bigsby ran a 4.56-second 40-yard time at the combine, but he plays a lot faster than that with the ball. With his 6'0", 210-pound frame and some burst, Bigsby will cut through defenders who don't square up and get a good tackling angle on him.

Oftentimes, Bigsby looks light on his feet with his lateral quickness, allowing him to evade defenders. When he doesn't get caught up trying to make a big play, the chiseled ball-carrier does a good job at going downhill to hit holes between the tackles.

Bigsby led Auburn in rushing through all three of his collegiate years, racking up 2,903 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground. In addition, he caught 62 passes for 448 yards.

If Bigsby makes strides in picking up blocks out of the backfield with his sizeable frame, he can become a three-down running back on the pro level.

With the running back options in the early and middle rounds of this year's draft, the Giants can find the next man up if Barkley isn't in their future plans.

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Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.