GMENHQ’s Reese Nasser believes former Auburn football running back and 2023 NFL draft prospect Tank Bigsby has the chops to be the Giants’ next RB1 should Saquon Barkley leave New York in free agency.
Barkley is expected to draw interest from teams like the Bears as the G-Men look to lock down quarterback Daniel Jones to a long-term extension. In that case, Nasser sees Bigsby — who amassed 2,903 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns on 540 total touches during his time on the Plains — as the next potential star rusher in the Big Blue backfield.
Nasser sees Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka loving the possibility of Bigsby, and sees No. 4 in the orange and blue thriving at the NFL level after contending with SEC defensive fronts for three seasons:
"“With the addition of Bigsby, the Giants could add a potential RB1 to their offense. If he can play at the level that many expect him to, he could be a star at the next level. All eyes are on Saquon this offseason to see what will end up happening.”“However, the G-Men could end up needing a new star for the offense sooner than later. Bigsby could end up being that guy. He has all the tools to be a brilliant playmaker at the next level and someone like Mike Kafka would surely love to use his skills every Sunday.”"
Tank Bigsby could be best Auburn football running back in NFL since Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams
Throughout the past decade, there’s been a few Auburn football running backs who have seen moderate NFL success, but compared to the alumni Alabama and Georgia have sent to the highest level of pro football — which includes Derrick Henry, Najee Harris, and Mark Ingram from the Tide side and James Cook, Nick Chubb, and De’Andre Swift via the Dawgs — the Tigers have been lacking in star power out of the backfield.
Bigsby has the chance to surpass Tre Mason and Ben Tate as guys who started off their careers well but tailed off quickly and become the best running back prospect from the Plains since the star pairing of Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams took the NFL by storm.