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2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sam Darnold replaces Eli Manning

By Brad Weiss

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 04: USC (14) Sam Darnold (QB) points to the sidelines during a college football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the USC Trojans on November 4, 2017, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 04: USC (14) Sam Darnold (QB) points to the sidelines during a college football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the USC Trojans on November 4, 2017, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – NOVEMBER 18: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions flips over Dicaprio Bootle #23 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in what was originally ruled a touchdown then reviewed and pulled back to the 1 yard line during the first quarter on November 18, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – NOVEMBER 18: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions flips over Dicaprio Bootle #23 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in what was originally ruled a touchdown then reviewed and pulled back to the 1 yard line during the first quarter on November 18, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Saquon Barkley

Running Back, Penn State

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made his first start in a San Francisco 49ers uniform on Sunday, and promptly led them to their second win of the season. Garoppolo earned the respect of all of his teammates with his play on Sunday, and even more importantly, he showed them what a winner looks like. Sure, it took five Robbie Gould field goals to get the job done, but Jimmy G came up big in “winning time,” and that is something this franchise has not had in a long time.

As they look to the future, they have to lock up Garoppolo first this offseason. Then, the team can prepare for the 2018 NFL Draft, where they will likely have a top-5 pick. With that pick, they should look to bring in a weapon that can help Garoppolo move this franchise forward, and that player should be Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley has been a beast for the Penn State Nittany Lions this season, though he was snubbed as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Still, he is going to go very early in round one next April, and with San Francisco, could be used in both the run, and passing game. He has gotten steadily better in each of his three seasons with Penn State, and is going to be a dominant player at the next level.

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