Devin Singletary wasn’t the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Bills general manager Brandon Beane didn’t gush about being touched by the hand of God when he selected Singletary, 74th overall in the third round, out of Florida Atlantic University. He didn’t think Singletary would end up in a Gold Jacket.
Six years later, all the Giants want from Devin Singletary is to replace Saquon Barkley, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Haha, pressure? What kind of pressure?
“I’ve been in the league just as long as he has. He’s only been in the league a year longer than me. I think I’m a playmaker just like him, so I just be myself,” Singletary told The Post. “It’s been good since I’ve been in the league, so I’m just going to continue to be that way.”
For comparison, Singletary’s career average of 4.6 yards per carry is better than Barkley’s 4.3, and Brian Daboll is hoping that number helps a little after Eagles coach Nick Sirianni responded to a heckler from a Giants fan by saying, “We got your best player.”
When asked about it, Daboll replied with a straight face: “I love Giants fans.”
Singletary rushed for a career-high 898 yards last season with the Texans and had a career-worst 29 receptions after four seasons in Buffalo. He wears Barkley’s old No. 26. He’s not Barkley. And he’s not a cut-and-past player.
The message to Giants fans was, “You’re getting a dog, you’re getting a player who’s willing to work, and I’m going to bring it every week.”
Barkley was the face of the franchise and the Giants’ best offensive player, and Singletary will have a better offensive line than Barkley had in his six seasons with the Giants. Still, stepping out of the shadow of such a giant won’t be easy.
“I don’t know, but I think the most important thing is just to do our best and win the game,” Singletary said. “That’s our goal, just to win the game.”
“We’re not really worried about ‘Saquon’s shadow’ or anything like that. We’re just going to find a way to win games.”
Daboll and general manager Joe Sean clearly viewed Singletary as the smartest, toughest and most reliable 5-foot-7, 203-pound back on the free-agent market. The Giants signed Singletary to a three-year, $16.5 million contract worth up to $19.5 million — significantly less than Barkley’s three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles.
Daboll will likely take over play-calling duties from assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who served as Singletary’s operating officer from 2019-2021.
“He’s fearless,” Singletary said, “and he’s not afraid of failure. He just has a desire to excel.”
Singletary’s knowledge of the system will be invaluable to him.
“With Daboll you always have to be on your toes,” he said. “I’ve never not seen it coming.”
Singletary should have a realistic chance at a 1,000-yard season as a No. 1 or third-down back, and while he’s not a home run hitter like Barkley, he can hit doubles with his agility.
“I have to always have food prepared and be ready to go,” Singletary said. “My mentality is still the same, I’ll do whatever it takes to help my team win.”
Daboll is aware of how eager the 26-year-old Singletary is to bring the young backs under his tutelage.
“He’s a very smart, intelligent player,” Daboll said, “and he understands how we play the game. He’s very good role-wise.”
Daniel Jones will need Singletary’s help more than Josh Allen or CJ Stroud. If Singletary can’t hold the defense back, I don’t see Jones winning. No. 1 draft pick Malik Neighbors had an incredible touchdown catch in OTAs on Thursday. Jones will lead the quickest, most agile receivers the NBA has ever seen.
“Oh man,” Singletary said, “it could explode.”
Singletary is known as the motor.
“My dad was a motor, and when I was born I was a little motor,” he said. “I started playing ball and it just stayed with me.”
His mission: to drive away from Saquon’s shadow.
