The Giants’ new regime could be making some serious changes this offseason. When asked about the possibility of trading Saquon Barkley, GM Joe Schoen wouldn’t rule it out. 
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“I’m open to anything. … I’m not going to say yes to every deal, but I’m going to listen,” Schoen said (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network).
Barkley was once untouchable. Now, after a string of injuries, the Giants are at least open to dealing him. After being selected No. 2 overall in 2018, Barkley was nothing short of stellar — his historic rookie campaign included 2,028 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns in a full 16-game slate. He had an equally impressive 5.4 yards per touch in 2019, but he missed three games thanks to a high ankle sprain.
Then, in 2020, he was limited to just two games before succumbing to a torn ACL. Barkley managed to play in 13 games this past year, but clearly wasn’t at 100%. He finished with just 593 yards off of 162 carries, good for just 3.7 yards per attempt.
The Giants have already exercised Barkley’s fifth-year option for 2022, but they may prefer to put those dollars elsewhere and target younger options in the draft. Meanwhile, they may be able to save money elsewhere by negotiating a new deal with wide receiver Sterling Shepard.
It would be idiotic not to try and unload him, if another GM is willing to pay for a guy who’s best days are probably already behind him. Call the Texans, they’ll prob give you their best player for him.
Open to trading Barkley is good, I don’t know if actively shopping him is. I suppose the wisdom of the decision all depends on how quickly the Giants can rebuild their offensive line-if it’s done in a year or so, then they’ll be missing out on a very talented running back. If it’s done after, then they probably would have wasted an already injured running back’s rebound potential behind a patchy line for nothing.
If somebody offers some good picks, and the Giants can find a long term contributor with those picks, it would be a good sell.
Is it just me or does it seem like the Giants have had bad offensive lines since the 1990’s? For whatever reason they can’t ever get the O-line right, and I’m not sure I have any faith in them doing so before Barkley qualifies for Medicare.
It’s not just you. There have been spots where the line was good-like in the late 2000s when the Bradshaw-Jacobs duo was in place. But I don’t think it’s just you, it just seems that way. I was thinking about that exact thing yesterday, in fact.
Now that it’s not the regime who drafted him, will the Giants be able to stomach trading him for a mid round pick? And who’s even giving him that? He’s a running back making $7 million this year, and he’s missed 21 of 65 games in his career. And he hasn’t even played at all that high a level since his rookie year. I hope he can show what he’s capable of in the NFL again, but I can’t imagine paying up to find out.
Assuming that the Giants have no chance to compete next year, what would be the point of holding onto him? Even if plays a little better, it won’t help.
It’s a fair point. But while I think the Giants shouldn’t just give him away, is there really even a trade market for a veteran running back with an injury history? For Barkley’s sake, and the Giants too, I hope there is, but I’m not getting on it.
Dang. Talk about an immediate plunge off a cliff. His rookie year feels like a decade ago.
I doubt he’s actually going anywhere. Giants shouldn’t trade him for anything less than a 2nd round pick and I can’t imagine anyone offering that much.
Sounds like a great plan. Why stop at Barkley? Trade Engram too
Engram is a free agent
Can’t trade Engram who is a free agent. Move anyone and everyone. We can win 4 games with scrubs and cap space
With Barkley since the return is suppedly only a 4th round pick I would hold onto him, and see if he gets off to a hot start. Then they can potentially move him at the deadline.
Patriots would be cool.
They don’t need him.
I honestly feel bad for Barkley. He seems like a good guy who works his butt off and who cares a great deal. He’s just been horribly snake bitten by injuries and saddled with being on a poor team with a mediocre quarterback and awful offensive lines. If he’s even 75% of the player he once was he might be a great change of scenery candidate but it would undoubtedly be a risky proposition for any team who trades for him.
agreed
If the Giants want anything of value, going to need to let him play to regain some of it. Right now he wouldn’t get them very much.
Not a Bills or Giants fan but … WOW would there be a better fit and need than Buffalo?
The Giants actually had a better W/L record when Barkley DIDN’T play. He is a player for a different era of football.