DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2018 NFL Season 2018 NFL Draft The case for Saquon Barkley

By all estimation, Saquon Barkley is a "generational" talent and will be a top tier talent in the NFL (rumor has it he's an even better human being). He has talent, skill and a determination that has all but embarrased opponents at times.

We saw what happened in Dallas, many moons ago, when Emmitt joined Aikman (albeit a year later, in that case). I know there are areas of greater need. I know Fitzpatrick is also a transcendant talent. What I don't know, and what I wonder, is how much easier would it be to groom a rookie quarterback in an offense with a dual threat, all world running back?

Barkley has rushed for over 3500 yards and has scored 49 TDs in the last three years. He caught 47 passes this year and ranked #11 in the Big 10 in receiving yards, the next closest running back was #40. When we pick our QB and turn to our second pick in the 1st round - many will argue that he IS the BPA.

Is it irresponsible to ignore other areas of need on the notion that this will put our "franchise QB" in a much better situation and possible fast track for success? Dak Prescott and the today's version of the Cowboys would most definitely say "absolutely not".

Am I Crazy?

No, it's just that we need Minkah or Derwin more. IMO

i'm down for Barkley.

but only if Crow walks during the offseason.

if we keep crow, than RB isn't a position of need, at least not in the first 3 rounds.

Running back is luxury pick. I am sorry it's ridiculous to draft a running back top 10 unless you think you are that close to winning your division much less 0-16.

I tend to agree, but all rules go out the window with transcendent talent. A 4-12 Cowboys team went 13-3 one year later with Zak and Elliot. Were they "close to winning their division"? Nope. They went on to be the top seed in their conference. Apples to apples? Absolutely not, I get that. Jacksonville 2015 - 3-13. Jacksonville today - 10-4 thanks to huge production from #4 overall pick Fournette... a talent that many will say has enabled Bortles to "find himself". More than evaluating proper draft position for a RB, I'm questioning how much a dominant RB means to developing a young QB. Not just the possible upside to this situation, but the depth of the downside if a team like the Browns puts yet another QB in a situation where the weight of the entire franchise is on his shoulders.

I believe we are a team with a lot more talent than our record indicates, have cap space that mimics the national debt and a lot of other picks to fill our roster. I seriously feel like the psychological strain of "being the savior" is much more of an obstacle than talent and learning curve. Having Barkley as 1a makes 1b's job a lot easier, and an opponent defense's job much harder. Eight men in the box daring you to throw and eight men in the box because you need them are two vastly different things. If the crystal ball tells me that Barkley's talent translates as well or better than Elliot - I set all the rules on fire.

Disclaimer: Mostly playing devil's advocate. If it was me putting the name on the card, it would probably be Fitzpatrick. Just wondering what other's think and responding to objections by "making the case" for Saquon.

Love to have him but I think there's more pressing needs.

I like a guy like Josh Adams out of ND for an AFC North guy. 6'3" 225 or so.

The Cowboys were #5 preseason power rankings in 2015, Tony Romo got hurt and they tanked to 4-12. They lucked out and got Dak Prescott. The Cowboys had the best offensive line in all of football, had Tony Romo returning and took one of the best graded running backs in decades at #4.


The Jags were 20th in the 2016 Preseason rankings. Some were picking them as a playoff team, they fell apart and ended up taking Fournette and adding Calais Campbell.

I get what you're saying, other teams have found success when they have taking a running back high. I just think the two example you gave were of teams who were much further along in their "process". A 1-15, 0-16 team adding a "put us over the top" type player seems shortsighted. We need a QB first and even if he is there at #4 or 5 even then it would seem like a luxury pick to me.

I dunno, I just don't see Barkley being as good as Fournette and Zeke.

I hear ya, definitely vastly different situations. I would never expect "over the top" with this franchise right now. But if over the top means 8-8 to the Browns it could be the difference between moving forward and taking "two steps back" in 2019. Continued continuity, a QB that feels he belongs, an offense that isn't a laughing stock, free agents that see us turning the corner, etc... As compared to a 4-12 team who looks like they might be ruining another QB, can't get out of it's own way in the QB dept, and is still snubbed by every free agent. I don't think there is another position that could add as many wins next year as an Elliot type talent ADDED to the equation with a young, talented QB.

And then there's the question of Barkley and whether he translates. Trent Richardson says "no". lol

And not to mention it is a deep back. class. We can grab a great back in rounds 2, or even 3.

If you have a chance to take a "generational talent" at RB, a guy who changes how defenses play against you, you have to take him, IMO. A strong running game always defined Cleveland Browns football back when they were a team to be reckoned with in the NFL, instead of a doormat.

I prefer Fitzpatrick or James at this point in time, but a good RB can be a rookie QB's best friend.

I'm not sure that he is a "generational" talent. I suppose he could certainly turn out to be an outstanding back in the NFL.

You mentioned Elliott and Fournette. Elliott and Fournette showed up big when their teams played in the biggest games. Look at what Elliott did in his final three games of his college career.

On the flip side, in PSU's biggest games/ toughest opponents this year against OSU and Mich St., Barkley went 21 carries for 44 yards and 14 for 63 yards. Against Indiana he had 20 carries for 56 yards.

He's a talented back, but I see more feast or famine wth him and less consistency.

Him and Lamar Jackson please

Yes Milk Man, those to games stick out like a sore thumb... at least in some of the other games where the stats were underwhelming you can look across to the final score and see they won by 40.

That's the issue - whether he translates. I would expect that if we were guaranteed that his success would equal Elliot, straight out of the gate, most of us would say "grab 'em" (I would).

Here are the top backs taken since 1990, only if they were taken in the top five of the 1st round. Looks like a crap shoot to me.

1990 1 1 2 Blair Thomas

1993 1 1 3 Garrison Hearst

1994 1 1 2 Marshall Faulk

1995 1 1 1 Ki-Jana Carter

1998 1 1 5 Curtis Enis

1999 1 1 4 Edgerrin James

2000 1 1 5 Jamal Lewis

2001 1 1 5 LaDainian Tomlinson

2005 1 1 2 Ronnie Brown
2 1 4 Cedric Benson
3 1 5 Cadillac Williams

2006 1 1 2 Reggie Bush

2008 1 1 4 Darren McFadden

2012 1 1 3 Trent Richardson

2016 1 1 4 Ezekiel Elliott

2017 1 1 4 Leonard Fournette

I can see the arguments for Barkley, Fitzpatrick, Chubb, Sutton. I would be happy with any of them. The issue with Barkley is that Hue has shown that he won't commit to the run. Even when we are being dominate running the ball, he turns away from it. Hue is pass happy. If he isn't willing to run the ball 20+ times/game and get the ball to the rb in the passing game too, then I see no point in drafting an RB that high/

Funny part is the same argument can be made for drafting a FS. What's the point if he's just gonna play 25-30 yards back every play?

Yup,

and after the Barkley the drop off in RB talent is quite substantial....Barkley is a "Running Back" the rest of the backs in this draft are simply "Ball Carriers" and there is big difference there.

Barkley has the potential to break games wide open either via running, catching the ball out of the backfield, or even on a kick or punt return...this is not to mention Barkley will flat out plant people as a blocker, kid is a great blocker...he literally reminds of Marshall Faulk...this guy has the potential to be a beast in the NFL the likes of what hasn't been seen since Faulk.

Everyone knows I think he BPA across the board, and most of the big draft experts agree that he is the BPA in the entire draft. I really hope we get him one way or the other.

I don't think Saquon Barkley is an all world talent, I don't think he'd be the best running back for the Browns going forward.

I agree.

I think Barkley will be a Brown if he last to our second first round pick.

It's our offense that is lacking. We go QB and HB. FS/CB will have to wait, and from what I saw yesterday during the game, rightfully so.

Barkley announced he’ll enter the draft.

NFL.com

If we draft him and Hue doesn't run him I'd pretty much guarantee Barkley won't be the guy leaving the team.

There are times when he appears to be super-human... 2:55 of that video, case in point. He has incredible speed and almost seems to run with eyes in the back of his head if there is someone who can catch him. He'll pound you between the tackles as well, he appears to have that Walter Paytonesque knack for hitting you before you hit him... In games where he looks human in the running game, he beats you out of the backfield. "You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him".

what impresses me is his shiftiness while still maintaining full momentum and speed forward

What impresses me is that he's doing it all at 230 lbs. He's LeBron-esque. Someone who shouldn't move like that for the size that he is.

The case against Saquon Barkley - Sony Michel is carving up the Sooners and he'll almost certainly be there in the second round.

There's like 10 good backs coming out this class. Guice, Love, Chubb, Rashaad Penny, Royce Freeman, Ronald Jones III. It's a very deep class this year. And the worst thing about all of this is that Duke Johnson is a 3 down back. Don't @ me.

This was posted in the college QBs thread, but I am responding to it here because it's mostly about Barkley:



I also think Barkley is special, but Duke Johnson can do 70% of what he can do and then you draft someone else later (we have three second round picks) who can fill in the other 30%. Very good running backs are found later in the draft literally every year. Just last year there were several; Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, and Tarik Cohen. In 2016; Kenyon Drake, Jordan Howard, and Alex Collins. In 2015; Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson, David Johnson, and Jay Ajayi.

I will not be upset if we take Saquon Barkley, but I think there are other, better, ways to build the team.

I agree Barkley is special and I won't be upset at all if we take him, but RB can be found later in every draft and this draft is deep at RB in particular.

Barkley is a game changer. For me, it's Barkley or Fitz at number 4. Although, i might start looking into possible left tackles. Joe Thomas will need a successor. I don't think that's Shaun Coleman and certainly not Spencer Drango (who's a great serviceable backup, but simply not athletic to be the starting LT for the season)

This, if Barkley n fitz both gone, that means the qb we didn’t take is there. Trade to jets so they can jump Denver. Denver goes Allen. So we get who we wanted at 4 cause 5 n 6 go qb. Dreaming I know. But kinda realistic.

Don't forget we took Roderick Johnson last year who, like Coleman, spent his rookie season on IR. My impression when we took Johnson was they planned to groom him to replace Thomas when it was time. I don't know if JT might have spent time schooling him during the season. I'm just saying it's possible we already have his successor in house.

We'll find out really quick what Dorseys philosophy is concerning RBs. If Barcley is there and we pass. Then he snags a Chubb or Guice.

I'm good either way, but man, having Barcley and Duke on the field together is dangerous and needs game planned for.

We could use a Back to POUND the ball in December and January. Johnson ain't it and regardless of what Hue has said about Crowell, I think he never saw him as a Pounding RB. His balance flat out SUCKS. Good riddance.

Cue the crazies saying DON'T draft Barcley, Hue won't use him.

We talk about Minkah-Fitzpatrick versus Barcley. It's obvious Barcley is going to be the consensus #1 or #2 BPA in this draft. If we don't have Minkah-Fitzpatrick rated right with him, and Barcley is there at 4, you CANNOT pass on Barcley.

That would be the Old BPA based on NEED. That's a HUGE mistake outside of if you already have your face of the franchise QB.

I posted this in Pure Football several weeks ago. It seems relevant to this conversation:

Watching him run all over Iowa makes me picture him destroying Pittsburgh. If he's there and we take him I won't have a problem with that. Imagine an offence with Rosen, Gordon, Saquon, Njoku, Coleman & Sutton. We'd practically be able to score at will.

Love Barkley but what cfrs15 is right he hasn’t taken a RB early

https://twitter.com/GrahamBarfield/status/949346902918815744

I agree with this scenerio. You nailed it.