ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper predicted the Giants would take UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the No. 2 pick in the draft. But Kiper believes the Giants could explore non-quarterback options with the second pick. One player stands out.

"The Giants at 2 could look at (Penn State running back) Saquon Barkley," Kiper said on a teleconference. "Orleans Darkwa gave them a lot. But you look at a guy like Barkley that is a heck of a talent and he can do everything. He blocks extremely well, which is very underrated. You've got to block, you've got to protect the quarterback, you're the last line of defense for the quarterback. He has great value. He catches the ball down the field. So he could be in the mix for the Giants."

Darkwa had a breakout fourth season, leading the Giants with 751 yards on 171 carries (4.4 ypc) and five touchdowns. But Darkwa, who is an unrestricted free agent, isn't nearly as explosive or as well-rounded as Barkley.

Darkwa had 19 catches for 116 yards last season, while Barkley had 54 catches for 632 yards in his junior season at Penn State. The Giants also have Wayne Gallman, a fourth-round pick last year, who had 111 carries for 476 yards (4.3 ypc) and 34 catches for 193 yards as a rookie.

Taking running backs early in the draft has become more common recently after a stretch when teams shied away from the position with top picks. The Jaguars took Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick in last year's draft, the Cowboys took Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth pick in the 2016 draft and the Rams took Todd Gurley with the 10th pick in the 2015 draft.

The success of those players has increased the odds of Barkley going early. Kiper predicted the Browns would take Barkley with the fourth pick in the draft.

"The way he bounces, the strength in the lower body and leg strength, balance through traffic -- he's a heck of a player," Kiper said. "You're hoping he's going to be like Fournette and Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley. That's what you're hoping that he can continue on. He can pass-block very effectively. He catches the ball out of the backfield, not only swing passes but down the field. He's a heck of a player."

The value of taking a running back with a top pick is questionable due to the shorter careers and comparatively lower salaries at the position. There also countless examples of running backs taken later in the draft -- or not at all -- that turn into stars. The top two rookie running backs -- Kansas City's Kareem Hunt and New Orleans' Alvin Kamara -- were third-round picks last year.

"(Teams) think they can look at Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamara and a lot of others that are really good that we don't have to invest a first-round pick in a running back for that reason," Kiper said. "Really good ones tend to slide down further than they should."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.