It was never a question of the quality of the player, the integrity of the individual or the specialness of the athlete.
On all three counts, Saquon Barkley was a sure thing.
There was always a question of the importance of the position, commensurate with a lofty draft slot. As a prospect, Barkley was top-rate, no debate.
There was always going to be a debate if using the No. 2 overall pick on a running back — even one as highly touted as Barkley — was going to be worth the draft equity.
“It don’t matter where you’re drafted,’’ rookie running back Tyrone Tracy told The Post. “If you’re on the football field, you’re expected to produce at a high level. First round, second round, seventh round, undrafted, there’s a lot of people who were undrafted playing in the NFL who are starting. It doesn’t matter where you’re drafted, it’s more so about what you do with your opportunities when they come.’’
The Giants hope Tracy’s theory is proven correct. So far? We’ll see.
The Giants on Sunday, for the first time, meet the former face of their franchise when they square off with the Eagles at MetLife Stadium.
After six years, they moved on from Barkley knowing they needed to replace the production of one starting running back by using two players.
They signed a capable veteran, 27-year old Devin Singletary, selected Tracy in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and still had Eric Gray, a 2023 fifth-round pick, on the roster.
Singletary (221 rushing yards, 37th in the league) and Tracy (208 yards, 40th in the league) have combined for 429 rushing yards. Barkley has been a one-man show for the Eagles, with 482 rushing yards (fourth in the league).
Barkley has been far more efficient — an average of 5.3 yards per attempt — compared with the Singletary/Tracy combo (4.1 yards per attempt).
Barkley, 27, has not made a big impact as a receiver, with 14 catches for only 92 yards and one extremely costly dropped pass down the stretch in a Week 2 loss to the Falcons.
The Singletary/Tracy duo has 21 receptions for 171 yards. Barkley has five total touchdowns; Singletary and Tracy have combined for three.
The Giants always knew their replacements would not be the same caliber player as Barkley and they were hoping they could get similar production — even slightly less would be acceptable — at a cost savings.
The Eagles gave Barkley a three-year contract worth $37.5 million — $26 million in guaranteed money. The Giants signed Singletary to a three-year, $16.5 million deal, with $9.5 million guaranteed. Tracy is on his rookie deal (four years, $4.3 million).
As far as 2024 salary-cap hits, Singletary and Tracy combine to account for $4.6 million.
Barkley counts $3.8 million on the Eagles’ salary cap this season and $5.5 million in 2025.
If he gets to 2026 with the Eagles, he will count $9 million on the cap.
The Eagles are sixth in the NFL in rushing at 146.2 yards per game. The Giants are 24th at 105.8 yards per game.
Both teams get significant contributions from their quarterbacks — Jalen Hurts has 196 rushing yards and Daniel Jones has 164.
After missing the past two games with a strained groin, Singletary is set to return.
Whether he returns as the starter and primary ball carrier remains to be seen.
Tracy sparked the 29-20 victory in Seattle with a 129-yard eruption and has impressed the coaching staff with his toughness and vision.
“I think Tyrone has capitalized on his opportunities,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “So, depending on the game plan, depending on the week, depending on the flow of the game, how things are going, that can determine a lot of things, whether they’re getting touches or not.’’
Tracy is not an ordinary rookie. He is 24 years old and spent six years in college — the first four as a wide receiver at Iowa and the last two converted to running back at Purdue.
He came up big in his first NFL start and after a slow start in last week’s 17-7 loss to the Bengals, he recovered for a strong second half.
“I think I did everything I could with the opportunities I was given,’’ Tracy said.
Enough to expect to have a big role even though Singletary is now healthy?
“Yeah, I do,’’ Tracy said. “I feel like they will give me more.’’
The Eagles are basically a one-man operation at running back. With the Giants, it is a shared responsibility.
“I feel like in the NFL, it’s tough to just have one running back that we feed the ball to over and over again,’’ left guard Jon Runyan Jr. said. “Devin’s a really established veteran in this league. He’s had success everywhere he’s gone. Tyrone is a really good pass-catching back out the backfield, he’s young, he’s played really free and loose and he’s just as fast, as well. I feel whoever’s back there, we’re not going to miss a beat.’’