He was so hyped — over-hyped, really — as he began being linked to the Giants that his addition seemed like a no-brainer. He put on a show at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, and, just like that, he was SuperSaquon Barkley.
He was drafted so high — over-drafted, really — when he came to the Giants with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018 that there was immediate euphoria, but also some trepidation. Sure, it looked as if Barkley would be great, but the position where he would achieve that greatness — running back — was becoming devalued in a league increasingly emphasizing the passing game and a running back-by-committee approach.
He was so good in his debut season — the runaway winner of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award — that it felt possible the heavily muscled, thighs-the-size-of-boulders Barkley might be able to live up to the outsized expectations thrust upon him.
Now, that’s not quite so clear. Yes, there have been long runs and stirring touchdowns, but there also has been reconstructive knee surgery and high and low ankle sprains that have kept Barkley off the field and put his stardom on pause.
