Former second overall selection for the New York Giants, running back Saquon Barkley is now heading into year five of his career.
Following a promising rookie season that consisted of 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns, the talented running back has played in just 28 games over the last three years.
His time with the Giants has quietly flown by, yet his 2018 dominance feels so long ago.
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Why Barkley is poised to bounce back:
Still 25 years old, Barkley should have a big 2022 playing for a new contract.
He has never lacked talent. Barkley is big, fast, and complete as both a runner and receiver. The key is, of course his availability.
Barkley did play in 13 of 17 games last year. He is one full year removed now from the ACL injury he sustained in 2020. Ideally, he builds on that and appears for the Giants in every game or close to it. That is the first step for Barkley to produce like he once did.
Another reason Barkley should improve in 2022 is because of the new additions in front of him on the offensive line. The Giants’ seventh overall pick, Evan Neal, will be expected to step up and contribute right away. Next to him, the Giants have a respectable, accomplished veteran in Mark Glowinski, who helped play a part in paving the way for Jonathan Taylor last year. The Giants added another experienced veteran in versatile interior player, Jon Feliciano, who spent the previous three years with new Giants head coach, Brian Daboll.
Barkley also has Andrew Thomas in the trenches, one of the Giants’ best players from a year ago.
Hopefully, Kadarius Toney can stay healthy to help keep things balanced on the outside.
Daboll will likely look to feature Barkley in both the run and pass game to help make things easier on fourth-year quarterback Daniel Jones who has everything to play for as well.
Barkley is extremely talented and should have a far better yards per carry amount than his 3.7 in 2021. If he stays healthy, with an improved scheme and talent, there is no reason why Barkley should not be significantly better for the Giants this year.