New York Giants: Free agency not the answer at running back

The New York Giants have more available salary cap space than you may believe, but that doesn’t mean spending on a running back in March is wise.

On Thursday morning, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan posted a piece about how the New York Giants are expected to have roughly $25-30 million in available salary cap money available depending on future transactions — cuts — that will be made between now and the start of free agency. Raanan also correctly wrote the Giants, and other clubs in similar situations, always find ways to make the money work. Franchises hire specialists who handle this subject.

Big Blue will cut some dead weight, potentially re-work current deals, possibly complete a trade or two to free-up additional funds, and negotiate future contracts that spread significant cap hits beyond 2018. Saving money to re-sign superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. either later this year or next winter is also a high priority, but new general manager Dave Gettleman and staff can easily achieve this mission.

With all that said, the Giants cannot spend freely between the beginning of the new NFL year and the final night of the draft. This reality combined with the noticeable holes throughout the roster seem to eliminate the Giants from signing a top-tier free-agent running back. Granted, many would say Le’Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the only elite back set to become a free agent. As pointed out by Spotrac, Bell is the only one of the bunch who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season.

The previously-mentioned Beckham has worked to recruit Bell to join him via Instagram, something Bell may be a fan of if his response is any indication. Building rosters in real football isn’t as easy as is doing so in Madden, however, and the Giants, simply put, are not in a position to give the ball-carrier who soon turns 26-years-old a historic contract that he’s earned with his past play.

Fans who would clamor for the Giants to sign Bell if he’s keen would probably point to the club’s inability to move the ball on the ground with any regularity last season. That’s fair, but remember that Orleans Darkwa and rookie Wayne Gallman both flashed promise in 2017 despite playing behind what may have been the worst offensive line in the league. Yes, Bell is a special player unlike any other back in the league, but history suggests the Giants must first address the sieve-like front unit before splashing cash on any playmaker.

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Dion Lewis is a weapon in the passing attack who can take the ball to the house, but his injury history is a concern. Isaiah Crowell was inconsistent during his first stint with the Cleveland Browns, although Crowell defenders would say he had little chance to succeed with that franchise. New Giants head coach Pat Shurmur has a history with Jerick McKinnon from their time with the Minnesota Vikings, and McKinnon fits nicely in a Shurmur-run offense that often features backs as receivers. Is McKinnon really that much of an upgrade from what the Giants already have on the depth chart?

Herein lies the problem with free agency: Signing certain players elicits positive reactions from fans when those deals are announced, but the returns often don’t match the cap values those contracts carry. That’s especially true in this scenario and at a time when a highly-praised draft class filled with talented running backs is set to enter the NFL.

By now, you’ve probably read and heard more than enough about Penn State’s Saquon Barkley. Barkley, the top running back prospect since Ezekiel Elliott, is everything Shurmur would want in his offense, an elusive athlete with great hands who could even serve on return duties if asked. He has no history of finding trouble off the field, and he’s from New York. Barkley is almost too perfect for the Giants.

The Giants putting Barkley’s name on the draft card and moving on is not a done-and-dusted decision. Quarterback Eli Manning turned 37 years old in January, and the combination of Gettleman and Shurmur may either fall in love with a quarterback prospect or feel compelled to select their signal-caller of the future with the second pick. Don’t forget that the Browns could sign a quarterback in free agency before using the first overall selection on Barkley.

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Fortunately, Barkley isn’t the only tantalizing option on the big board. Walter Football forecasts up to nine backs could be worth first- and second-round values when the draft arrives. Depending on how things play out in the opening round, the Giants could land a franchise-altering rookie and save some cap space in the process.

Plenty will happen around the league over the next several weeks, much of which will directly and indirectly impact the Giants, but it’s likely nothing that occurs will change the fact this isn’t the year for the team to spend on a free-agent back when that money could be directed toward fixing bigger problems that plagued the roster beginning last August.