The New York Giants have a few quality pairs on their 90-man roster. They range from Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams to Darren Waller and Parris Campbell, but are they the roster standouts?
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports doesn’t believe so.
On a recent list breaking down the “best duos on each NFL team heading into 2023,” Kerr gives the nod to quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley.
Look no further than Jones and Barkley toward why the Giants were a playoff team last season, the only two threats on an offense that lacked playmakers. Jones led the league in interception rate (1.1%) and finished with a career high in rushing yards (708) and rushing touchdowns (seven). He set career highs in passing yards in completion percentage (67.2%), passing yards (3,205) and passer rating (92.5), while becoming the first player in NFL history with 300-plus passing yards, 70-plus rushing yards and two-plus passing touchdowns in a playoff game.
Jones has 44 passing touchdowns and 17 interceptions in games Barkley plays, along with a 91.4 passer rating. He has 16 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in games Barkley doesn’t play (77.3 rating). Barkley playing in every game Jones did last season certainly helped, as he finished fourth in rushing yards (1,312) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (10). Barkley had the most rushing yards for a Giants player in a season since Tiki Barber (2006) and finished seventh in yards from scrimmage (1,650).
The Giants need Jones and Barkley to make the playoffs, even with an improved offense around them in 2023.
When Jones and Barkley are both healthy and on the field, the Giants’ offense is an entirely different animal. Add in all of the upgrades this offseason and it’s easy to understand why fans are excited about Big Blue in 2023.
