Saquon Barkley aims to be reason for NY Giants turnaround
Despite an uncertain future, Saquon Barkley hopes that he is part of the NY Giants’ turnaround in coming years
The NY Giants have fallen on hard times over the past decade, suffering through five consecutive losing seasons and failing to win a postseason game since winning the Super Bowl in 2011.
Embattled Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has taken much criticism for drafting running back Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, out of Penn State, especially after Barkley missed 22 games since 2019.
However, even as the NY Giants struggle and Barkley has gone through three consecutive injury impacted seasons, thus far in 2021 failing to come close to 100 rushing yards in a single game, New York’s star running back hopes to be part of the organization’s long-term plans.
"“I plan on being a big reason why we turn this thing around,” Barkley told The Associated Press on Tuesday for an upcoming episode of the “AP Pro Football Podcast.” “That’s just my mindset, that’s my thought process. When I got drafted here, I said I want to be here for the rest of my life. I was born in New York, I’m from Pennsylvania. I live an hour and some change from my parents’ house. This is where I started my career, where I would love to finish my career. I know this thing is going to turn around and I would love to be a part of the reason it does.”"
Barkley will make $7.2 million in 2022, on his fifth-year option, but beyond next season, his NY Giants future is a murky one.
The NY Giants will certainly have a difficult decision when it comes to Barkley’s future, and whether the organization feels he’s still capable of becoming one of the premier players at his positions. Compounding the decision is the durability concerns that have already been brought to the fore by Barkley, who happens to play a position where injuries wreak havoc on careers.
Through his first nine games of this season, Barkley has rushed for just 379 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while averaging 3.8 yards per carry.