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NFL Draft 2018: Grades for all 32 first-round picks

By Gil Alcaraz IV

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins looks to pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the first quarter of their NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins looks to pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the first quarter of their NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images /

Running Back. Penn State. Saquon Barkley. player. Pick Analysis. 2. 31. Scouting Report

Grade: A+

Plain and simple, the New York Giants got the best player in the 2018 draft class. What’s better is they got him with the No. 2 overall pick.

Saquon Barkley completes this New York offense, giving them an elite talent in the backfield who can take pressure off of Eli Manning to carry the scoring load. Combined with a passing game that includes Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram, he should have plenty of space to victimize defenses as a rookie.

Now, Barkley essentially becomes the face of this franchise consider Beckham’s uncertainty. With Manning on his last leg as an NFL quarterback, the young runner should immediately take over as the star of the New York offense. With his abilities to make defenders miss, create mismatches in the passing game and even make an impact as a return man, he’s an early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

This was the direction the Giants had to go with the Browns taking a quarterback at No. 1 overall. Some will say they should have considered filling a more glaring gap in their roster, but they’ll be very happy with what Barkley ends up doing in the Big Apple.

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