Devin Singletary was not the second-overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft. Brandon Beane, the Bills general manager, didn’t gush that Singletary was touched by the hand of God when he selected him with the 74th pick in the third round out of Florida Atlantic University. He didn’t envision him as a Gold Jacket Guy.
It is six years later and all the Giants are asking of Devin Singletary is to fill the giant shoes of Saquon Barkley — the second pick of the 2018 NFL draft.
P-p-p-p-pressure? What pressure?
“I’ve been in the league just like him … he’s only been in the league a year before me. … I feel like I’m a playmaker like him, so … I’m just gonna be me,” Singletary told The Post. “It’s been going well for me since I’ve been in the league, so that’s what I’m gonna keep doing.”
For what it’s worth, Singletary’s 4.6 yard per carry career average is higher than Barkley’s 4.3. Brian Daboll is hoping it’s worth something after Eagles coach Nick Sirianni volunteered that he responds to heckling Giants fans with: “We got your best player.”
A straight-faced Daboll, asked about it, said: “I love Giants fans.”
Singletary rushed for a career-best 898 yards last season with the Texans, with a career-worst 29 receptions following four seasons in Buffalo. He is wearing Barkley’s old 26. He is not Barkley. He is not chopped liver either.
His message for Giants fans: “You’re getting a dog, you’re getting somebody that’s ready to work, and I’m gonna bring it week in and week out.”
Barkley was the face of the franchise and the Giants’ best offensive player. Singletary figures to have a better offensive line than Barkley ever had in his six seasons as a Giant. Still, it will be no easy task emerging from such a giant shadow.
“I don’t know, just ball out, win games, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Singletary said. “That’s our focus anyway — win games.
“We ain’t really worried about ‘The Shadow of Saquon’ or none of that. It’s just find ways to win games.”
Daboll and GM Joe Schoen clearly considered Singletary the smartest, toughest, most dependable 5-foot-7, 203-pound back on the free-agent market. The Giants signed him to a three-year, $16.5 million deal worth up to $19.5 million … considerably less than Barkley’s three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles.
Daboll is likely to assume play-calling duties from assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. Daboll was Singletary’s OC from 2019-21.
“He’s fearless,” Singletary said. “No fear of failure. He only has the desire to excel.”
Singletary’s familiarity with the system will be invaluable for him.
“You have to be on your toes at all times with Daboll,” he said. “It’s never like we didn’t see that one coming.”
Singletary should have a realistic shot at a 1,000-yard season as the No. 1 back and/or three-down back. He is not the home run hitter that Barkley is but he can get you doubles with his elusiveness.
“You have to be ready to eat and ready to go,” Singletary said. “The mindset’s still the same, whatever it takes to help the team win.”
It is not lost on Daboll how Singletary, 26, has embraced taking the younger backs under his wing.
“He’s a very smart, cerebral player,” Daboll said. “Understands how we do things. Very good in terms of assignments.”
Daniel Jones will need more assistance from Singletary than Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud did. Defenses will be daring Jones to beat them if Singletary cannot keep them honest. No. 1 draft pick Malik Nabers made a jaw-dropping touchdown catch at Thursday’s OTAs and Jones will have the fastest and quickest group of receivers he has ever had.
“Man,” Singletary said, “it could be explosive.”
Singletary is known as Motor.
“My father was Motor, and when I was born, I was Little Motor,” he said. “Started playing ball, and it stuck with me.”
His mandate: Motor away from The Shadow of Saquon.
