INDIANAPOLIS — New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen made some significant news during his first career NFL Scouting Combine news conference: running back Saquon Barkley could be traded this offseason. Schoen told reporters during his 15-minute Q&A Tuesday: “I’m open to everything. … I’m not going to say yes to every deal, but I’m going to listen.”
Will the Giants trade Saquon Barkley?
Dealing Barkley would be a quick and massive repudiation of the person who had Schoen’s job previously. Former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman took Barkley second overall in 2018, drafting him over quarterback Josh Allen. He doubled and tripled down on the decision in word and deed in the years that followed.
Barkley has never lived up to that billing. Injuries surely played a role. And his career stats — roughly 4,400 yards from scrimmage and 27 touchdowns — aren’t terrible. But nonetheless, the Giants are no closer to winning a championship now than when he was drafted.
Barkley is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Giants picked up his fifth-year option, which will pay him $7.2 million guaranteed this year. Both the entire salary and his entire cap figure (also $7.2 million) would come off the Giants’ books should they deal him.
Schoen acknowledged the Giants could be looking to move multiple veterans considering their bad cap situation. They need to shed $11.5 million in liabilities by March 16 just to get under the cap, and even more to add new players.
Moving on from Barkley will of course be an acknowledgment of failure, but the failure will be Gettleman’s, not Schoen’s.
So who would trade for Barkley, and what would it take? Presumably, only a team that believes it’s close to winning a championship — the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and Buffalo Bills (Schoen’s former team) come to mind. As for compensation? Probably a third-round pick, at best.
Want more news and rumors from the NFL Combine?
Our NFL team is on the ground in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine and there have been lots of news and rumors flying around from around the league. Here’s our collection of stories from today (March 1).
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the New York Giants will be stupid if they trade Saguon Barkley he’s their best and only good player on offense general manager Dave Gettlemen messed up this team all the New York Giants needs to do is fix the offensive line, fine good wide receivers and tight ends through the draft and stop listen to the New York media and New York fans
I believe we should keep him another year. Perhaps negotiate a modest pay cut at say. 4.5 million? Nevertheless I think he deserves at least that along with another year before any decision is made. However if the Giants get an offer for a No.#1 in the draft???