Over the next few weeks, you can guarantee there's going to be a lot of buzz surrounding NY Giants running back Saquon Barkley. The Pro Bowler has been out since Week 2 due to a high-ankle sprain, but there's a good chance we see him suit up vs. the Buffalo Bills in primetime.
However, could Barkley's days with the G-Men be numbered? With the NFL trade deadline coming later this month, there has already been plenty of speculation that the Giants could be sellers and decide to trade Barkley for a high draft pick.
On ESPN, analyst Bart Scott, a former Jets and Ravens standout, proposed sending Barkley to the Baltimore Ravens for a second-rounder. Would this end up being enough for him, or would Joe Schoen turn this down in a heartbeat?
.@BartScott57 believes the Ravens should try to trade for Saquon Barkley 😯 pic.twitter.com/JlF8Nv2Ch2
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 13, 2023
Will the NY Giants trade Saquon Barkley before the deadline?
This idea from Scott has people talking, but is this something Schoen would even consider - it's hard to say. Barkley is the best offensive playmaker for the Giants, but he's playing on the non-exclusive franchise tag. His future with this team could not be more unclear.
The Giants could tag Barkley again this offseason, or they could just let him walk in free agency. Because of this, Schoen may want to get something in return for the speedster and a second-rounder from Baltimore would be nothing to sneeze at.
This trade would also reunite Barkley with his old friend Odell Beckham Jr., who he played with for Big Blue during his rookie season. The Ravens are hoping to push for a Super Bowl title in the near future and landing someone like Barkley would only help them in their push for that goal.
With Barkley's injury history, Schoen hesitated in giving him the kind of money No. 26 wanted in a long-term extension. With Barkley already dealing with a troubling injury this year, it's only going to give Schoen more reason to be cautious in extending him this winter.
That's why a Saquon trade may not be as crazy as everyone thinks. Keep a close eye on the Ravens over the next few weeks as a potential team to try and get Barkley out of East Rutherford.