By Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

EAST RUTHERFORD — When Jonathan Stewart signed with the Giants on the first day of NFL free agency, he immediately vaulted to the top of the running back depth chart.

He might have stayed there if the Browns selected Saquon Barkley with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

But the Browns instead went with quarterback Baker Mayfield, leaving Barkley for the Giants.

So what was Stewart's reaction to the Giants taking a running back that analysts already are dubbing a potential future Hall of Famer and the best running back prospect in more than 10 years?

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Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

"It's a good pick," Stewart said.

Was he aware when chose the Giants that they might draft a running back in the first round?

"Yeah," Stewart said. "Absolutely."

Stewart, whose 7,318 rushing yards over 10 seasons are the most in Panthers' history, was a man of more words when it came to his scouting report on Barkley.

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"He’s a smart football player: He picks things up very fast," Stewart said. "He’s explosive, and he’s really good in his route-running. That’s one of the things that he’s really focused on. And you can see that, for sure."

Barkley is considered a three-down back because of his ability as a rusher, pass-catcher and pass-blocker, which could mean limited touches for Stewart. The veteran spent most of his career in a two-back rotation with DeAngelo Williams, so a division of labor won't be anything new.

"Whatever the game plan is for a week going into a game," Stewart said, "you’ve got to be prepared for it."

Stewart is coming off a career-low 3.4 yards per carry and just turned 31. NFL history suggests running backs' production nosedives after age 30.

"My age says I’m 31," Stewart said, "but really, I feel I’m as productive as if I’m 26, 25. And that’s just as realistic as it gets."

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Stewart said he is comfortable in the role of mentor to the Giants' other running backs. Barkley, undrafted rookie Robert Martin and second-year pros Wayne Gallman and Jalen Simmons have a combined 111 carries and 13 games of experience (all belonging to Gallman). Stewart and Simmons briefly were teammates in Carolina.

"I’ll share a little bit of my wisdom with all of the guys that have questions," Stewart said. "The main thing is just take care of your body. I can’t say it enough.

"Whether you’re a rookie, whether you’re an 11-year guy, there’s always time to learn, there’s always time to share advice and wisdom that’s gained through experience. There’s younger guys that might experience things different than I have, so there’s always room for me to learn, too."

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Barkley and Stewart could join the list of best running back tandems in the NFL, especially if Barkley picks up the offense as quickly as expected. Stewart played for Giants offensive coordinator Mike Shula with the Panthers.

"When it comes to learning the offense, just give yourself some time and be dedicated to it," Stewart said. "You only get what you put in. But the main thing is respect the process and control what you can control."

Here were the most productive running back duos (where both rushers had at least 450 yards) in 2017:

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Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images

Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, Saints

Ingram: 1,124 yards, 12 TDs

Kamara: 728 yards, 8 TDs

Combined: 1,852 yards, 20 TDs

The gold standard because both were selected to the Pro Bowl. Kamara, the Offensive Rookie of the Year, will have to shine alone for the first four games of the season because Ingram is suspended due to a violation of the NFL's PEDs policy.

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Alex Collins and Javorious Allen, Ravens

Collins: 973 yards, 6 TDs

Allen: 591 yards, 4 TDs

Combined: 1,564 yards, 10 TDs

Not the first tandem that comes to mind but still one of the best. Collins had 48 more rushes but Allen had twice as many receptions (46-23).

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Ron Jenkins | AP

Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris, Cowboys

Elliott: 983 yards, 7 TDs

Morris: 547 yards, 1 TD

Combined: 1,530 yards, 8 TDs

This wasn't a true tandem per se because most of Morris' work came during the six games Elliott missed while suspended. Morris is an unsigned free agent. Will Rod Smith or Bo Scarborough be able to fill Morris' shoes?

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Ranking NFL teams by best offensive skill players

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Curtis Compton | AP

Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Falcons

Freeman: 865 yards, 7 TDs

Coleman: 628 yards, 5 TDs

Combined: 1,493 yards, 12 TDs

One year ago at this time, Coleman and Freeman were where Ingram and Kamara are now. They combined for 1,599 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground in 2016. They also had 63 catches in 2017.

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Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, Vikings

Murray: 842 yards, 8 TDs

McKinnon: 570 yards, 3 TDs

Combined: 1,412 yards, 11 TDs

The unbelievable part about this duo is rookie Dalvin Cook was the team's leading rusher through the first four games before a season-ending injury. Murray and Cook will be the duo this year as McKinnon signed with the 49ers. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur had this trio as Vikings offensive coordinator.

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Carlos Hyde and Matt Breida, 49ers

Hyde: 940 yards, 8 TDs

Breida: 465 yards, 2 TDs

Combined: 1,405 yards, 10 TDs

McKinnon took Hyde's place with the 49ers after Hyde signed with the Browns. Breida signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Southern. He and McKinnon will look to pick up where they left off.

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Derrick Henry and Demarco Murray, Titans

Henry: 744 yards, 5 TDs

Murray: 659 yards, 6 TDs

Combined: 1,403 yards, 11 TDs

Henry and Murray were a true tandem in that they ranked No. 24 and No. 27 in the NFL, respectively. Murray had 15 starts to Henry's two, but Murray only had eight more carries (184-176). But Murray remains a free agent, while Henry will team up with Dion Lewis, who was the Patriots' leading rusher in 2017 before free agency.

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Why do Giants have so little cap space? When does relief come?

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Orleans Darkwa and Wayne Gallman, Giants

Darkwa: 751 yards, 5 TDs

Gallman: 476 yards, 0 TDs

Combined: 1,227 yards, 5 TDs

The Giants drafted Barkley and signed Stewart because the rushing attack needed a major upgrade. Or was it just the offensive line that needed a major upgrade to help backs like Darkwa and Gallman? Gallman is No. 3 on the depth chart now, while Darkwa remains unsigned after offseason surgery.

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Kenyan Drake and Jay Ajayi, Dolphins

Drake: 644 yards, 3 TDs

Ajayi: 465 yards, 0 TDs

Combined: 1,109 yards, 3 TDs

Ajayi rushed for 465 yards in seven games before he was traded to the Eagles, where he teamed up with LeGarrette Blount. Ajayi and Corey Clement are the new Eagles tandem. All but 19 of Drake's yards came after the Ajayi trade, so it wasn't a real 1-2 punch.

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Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard, Bengals

Mixon: 626 yards, 4 TDs

Bernard: 458 yards, 2 TDs

Combined: 1,084 yards, 6 TDs

Bernard had been with the Bengals for four seasons before Mixon joined as a rookie. It looks like Mixon will be the feature back in the future. Seven running backs in the NFL had more rushing yards on their own than this tandem, for what it's worth.

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Ryan Dunleavy can be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy.