The New York Giants signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a contract extension and kept Saquon Barkley on the franchise tag before the 2023 season. As the NFL trade deadline nears, Barkley’s future in New York has been called into question.
With New York effectively out of the playoff picture and just battling for positioning in the 2024 NFL Draft order, recent trade rumors have surfaced surrounding Barkley. The Pro Bowl running back could be a huge addition for a Super Bowl contender and there’s some rationale to trading him.
- Saquon Barkley stats 2023: 207 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per carry, 2 total touchdowns in three games
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Barkley is poised to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024 and a second consecutive franchise tag would cost New York more than $12 million fully guaranteed. Based on the team’s performance this season, bringing Barkley back wouldn’t turn this offense around.
However, the former first-round pick has also made it clear what he wants. Despite having the opportunity to potentially land with one of the best teams in football, he wants to stay with the Giants.
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“Sitting here, everyone knows how I feel. Everyone knows I don’t want to get traded. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would want to get traded anywhere. It’s not an easy thing to do. You have to move. I have a family. I would love to be here.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley on possibly being traded
Of course, the decision isn’t Barkley’s to make. New York’s roster is very thin compared to the top teams in the NFC and contract extensions for some of its best players have limited cap space. In theory, trading Barkley would be a step towards retooling this roster.
- Saquon Barkely contract: $10.091 million cap hit in 2023, NFL free agent in 2024
However, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Giants aren’t planning on moving Barkley. Even if teams called, the impression around the league is New York wants Barkely to stick around for the remainder of the season.
Instead, New York’s plan for the remainder of the season seems to be centered on finding some momentum for this offense. Entering NFL games today, the Giants have the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL (11.8 PPG) and are averaging the second-fewest passing yards per contest (166.7).
Already sitting at 1-5, the remaining Giants’ schedule features six playoff contenders including two games against the Philadelphia Eagles. Based on the direction things are headed, it’s possible these will be Barkley’s final games in a Giants’ uniform.