New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Giants urged to sign former division rival to replace Saquon Barkley

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated 3/21/24

The New York Giants could turn to a former division rival after losing Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.

Even after signing Devin Singletary, general manager Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll and the New York Giants could add a short-yardage back who excels in pass protection to quarterback Daniel Jones’ supporting cast.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell lists the New York Giants as the perfect fit for former Dallas Cowboys star turned journeyman backup Ezekiel Elliott.

“General manager Joe Schoen has already signed Devin Singletary to take over as the team’s lead back from Saquon Barkley,” Barnwell writes. “But, there’s little in the cupboard behind the former Bills and Texans back. Elliott is a more physical interior runner than Singletary and can help fill in as a pass-blocker, which is critical for a team that expects to play Daniel Jones under center in 2024.”

How much does Ezekiel Elliott have left to offer Giants?

The main concern the Giants could have when it comes to possibly signing Elliott is how much mileage the 28-year-old has left and how much he has been worn down from being a feature back with the Cowboys for seven seasons.

Elliott enters the 2024 campaign looking for his next destination after logging 2,065 carries thus far in his career.

That’s a significant workload at a position where players can quickly fall off a cliff regarding effectiveness and production.

Last season in New England, Elliott rushed for just 642 yards with three touchdowns while averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry.

As Pro Football Focus points out, Elliott averaged just 2.4 yards after contact per carry, and even though New York has bolstered its offensive line, that lack of elusiveness could prove problematic.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: