Saquon Barkley joined James Bradberry as high-profile Giants trade candidates this offseason, one in which the rebuilding team severed ties with select veterans to cut costs. This included Bradberry, released in May after a Texans trade fell through, but Barkley remains with the team.
Trade rumors involving the former Offensive Rookie of the Year swirled for a stretch earlier this year, but the Giants did not discover much of a market. The Giants may have discussed prospective Barkley trades, but Dan Duggan of The Athletic notes it is unlikely they were truly shopping the talented back (subscription required).
No offer wowed new GM Joe Schoen, and the former No. 2 overall pick is expected to play a versatile role in Brian Daboll‘s first Giants offense. Barkley is not the only New York skill-position player to be thrown into trade rumors this offseason. Kadarius Toney and Darius Slayton joined him. While the Giants do not appear prepared to unload Toney after just one year, Slayton has consistently been mentioned as a player who might not be on Big Blue’s 2022 roster.
Neither of those players has displayed a ceiling remotely close to what Barkley has, though injuries have significantly affected the Penn State product’s trajectory. A 2019 high ankle sprain, 2020 ACL and MCL tears, and more ankle trouble last season turned Barkley from being fast-tracked to a monster extension to a player whose Giants future beyond this season is very much in doubt. Barkley joins Daniel Jones in that lot, but the Giants did pick up the former’s fifth-year option (only $7.2MM) a year before declining to exercise Jones’.
Still, Barkley’s injuries and a 2021 season in which he averaged 3.7 yards per carry have obviously dropped his stock. If it becomes clear the Giants do not see a future with Barkley, an in-season trade — when teams would not have to pay his full salary, which doubles as the league’s sixth-highest running back cap number — could be in play. Of course, Barkley also has a chance to revive his value behind what could be the best offensive line with which he has played. The Giants added at least three new starters, including first-round right tackle Evan Neal and longtime Colts guard Mark Glowinski, and may have made a tremendous play-caller upgrade by hiring Daboll.
Barkley’s dominant rookie season (NFL-leading 2,028 scrimmage yards, to go along with 15 touchdowns) and the fact that he is only going into his age-25 season should keep the door open for a reasonable payday — if he can stay reasonably healthy this season. Barkley joins Kareem Hunt, Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris and Devin Singletary among the backs eligible for free agency next year. A strong 2022 would allow him to headline that class while also potentially moving the new Giants regime to consider a second contract.
It going to take several seasons for Daboll and Schoen to build the roster they need to compete…..until then, we’ll be reading all about Getty draft picks like this article does that underperform and cost the franchise $$$$ millions in cap for a team that will have to work very hard just to be 8-8 and won’t be there anytime soon.
Barkley, Toney, Jones, as well as some sketchy free agent signings like Golladay will doom this team in the immediate future.
I think that a lot of people could be giving up on Barkley too soon. I hate it when a guy like him gets labeled “injury prone” because he’s had a succession of serious, one-off injuries that seem unrelated, not a bunch of nagging injuries that leave him questionable every week. Also, he’s had no help. Lousy offensive lines, mediocre quarterback play, terrible coaches, porous defenses, you name it.
If he comes out this season and averages 3.7 yards per carry again and/or can’t stay healthy, I’ll be the first to admit that I was wrong about him. But he might just surprise some people instead.
Pass-catching backs with surgically repaired knees have a short shelf life in the NFL.
You also have to shake your head about the Giants looking to dump Slayton while keeping Sterling Shepard. This is the NFL team that’s had the worst aggregate record since the Boat Trip.
The problem is what’s the value of a running back who struggles to stay on the field. Availability trumps talent every time.
War Eagle Darius Slayton the GOAT
Barkley serves as a reminder of the fallacy of drafting the “best player available”. He certainly was the best player available when the Giants picked, but you can’t win with running backs in the current NFL unless you have a coach willing to bet his career on an unorthodox strategy.
You didn’t even put a clearance sale on him to shop him. Full price Saquan is just window candy.
I suspect there were numerous occasions when it made more sense for Barkley to shop the Giants. I doubt he would be too upset at receiving a “get out of jail free” card.
Even if you’re optimistic about Barkley, he’s a bad value even without trading something to get him. Among all running backs in 2022, he’s got the #6 cap hit, #9 total amount of cash, and #5 base salary. He’s under control for one year of elite running back pay when he’s missed 21 of 49 games since his rookie year. Even if you think he can be a game changing talent, his shoot the moon upside is not being overpaid this year. I’m rooting for the guy to be the player he can be, but I wouldn’t trade anything at all to bet on it.
B-U-__ – T
He’ll go to a contender at the deadline and be a role player and suddenly excell in that reduced but effective role. Don’t be surprised to see him score on a dazzling run in the super bowl and get a ring on averaging like 13 touches a game. Then some sucker will pick him up next season and regret doing so.