When Dave Gettleman took over as the New York Giants general manager in 2018, his first draft decision was also one of the most controversial ones. He selected Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick.

While nobody discussed how talented Barkley was, the debate was much more about positional value. Even if he was great, the impact of a running back is limited if compared to players from positions like quarterback, edge rusher, and cornerback.

In 2024, Saquon finally left the Giants, three years after Gettleman retired, and had a career year with the rival Philadelphia Eagles. On Sunday, the running back will be a part of the Super Bowl, and Gettleman took advantage of that to take a victory lap for his draft decision.

"When a running back is a legitimate touchdown waiting to happen, f–k the analytics," Gettleman told the New York Post. "You're in the press box, the ball goes into Saquon's hands, the whole place is holding their breath. As soon as there's a little seam, they're all thinking, 'Oh s–t, he's gonna go!' Does this shock me? No. And I know I sound like an assh*** when I say these things. No, it doesn't shock me."

In Gettleman's point of view, Barkley's explosive ability is what separates him from other impactful players.

"When a running back can get to the line of scrimmage clean, nobody's at his feet, the great ones can do great things," Gettleman added. "There's nothing his game lacks in terms of ability. The thing people didn't understand when I took him is that he's a threat to go the distance any time the ball is in his hands."

Wrong approach

Dave Gettleman is correct: Saquon Barkley is a great, explosive running back. But the criticism and the analytically-inclined approach was never about Barkley's individual ability.

Everyone knew he would be a really good running back. The question was always about the value of a running back so high in the draft, and what he would give up to make that decision.

Yes, Saquon is great and is an impactful part of the Eagles' campaign. However, the Giants could have taken Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. Cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Jaire Alexander were also on the board.

Sure, a worse decision could have been made with Josh Rosen—or even Sam Darnold. But Gettleman is taking a victory lap for the wrong reasons.

Between Gettleman's decision to draft Barkley and his retirement as a GM, the Giants had 5-11, 4-12, 6-10, and 4-13 seasons. Yes, Saquon played well in four of his six seasons in New York, when he was healthy, and the Giants were still a bad team.]

That actually reinforces the point. Running back matters when the team is ready or close to it. Good for the Eagles, but the Giants wouldn't have been nearly as good if they had kept Barkley. And Gettleman's draft decision is still questionable at best.

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