Odell Beckham Jr.: Saquon Barkley 'one of the best to ever put on cleats'

Free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. heaped praise on former teammate Saquon Barkley in a tweet Thursday, calling the Giants running back "one of the best to ever put on cleats." 

Beckham said it feels good to see Barkley "get to do what he does," after Barkley's resurgent performance in the Giants' thrilling Week 1 win over the Titans.

Barkley rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown in the victory, his highest total in a game since December 2019. The former second overall pick missed nearly the entire 2020 season with a torn right ACL and struggled in 2021 as he played through left ankle troubles. 

Beckham was Barkley's teammate in 2018 before a blockbuster trade that sent the star receiver to the Browns. Despite being a rookie, Barkley tore up opposing defenses that season with 2,028 scrimmage yards and a career-best 5.0 yards per carry. 

ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported in August that Barkley was running "more decisively and harder" in camp and looked "explosive." That's the player the Giants saw on the field Sunday, and it's the player New York needs to stay in contention in the NFC.