After a brutal 1-4 start to the season, the Giants may have to start making decisions with an eye towards the future. With that said, some difficult decisions are going to be made, specifically surrounding Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley.
Will Barkley still be with the team once November rolls around? He has missed the past three games due to an ankle injury and the G-Men could be in no rush to bring him back now that they're 1-4. Barkley and the Giants were unable to come to terms on a long-term contract extension this offseason, which has left many wondering if this could be his final season in New York.
With the season spiraling out of control and the Giants being reluctant to give Barkley a lucrative contract, the team could be open to the idea of trading him and recouping any value they can rather than letting him leave for nothing in free agency. Here are four Saquon Barkley trade destinations if the G-Men and Joe Schoen decide to become sellers before the upcoming NFL trade deadline:
4. Miami Dolphins
During the offseason, the Dolphins were linked to multiple high-profile running backs such as Jonathan Taylor and Dalvin Cook. It’s clear the front office was prepared and willing to make a splash move to address the running back position and now that they’re 4-1 and looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, they could push their chips all in for this season and trade for Barkley.
According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, the Dolphins were willing to offer Taylor a lucrative contract extension if they acquired him from the Colts via trade. If that’s the case, it makes sense that the 'Phins would be willing to acquire Barkley and give him the long-term contract Schoen has been hesitant to based on the previous reports from Anderson.
However, while Barkley would make for an exciting addition to this backfield, there is a case to be made that they don’t need Barkley or any other big-named running back the way they thought they did during the offseason. They currently lead the NFL in team rushing yards per game (185.8) thanks to veteran tailback Raheem Mostert and emerging rookie sensation De’Von Achane. Even though Achane is reportedly set to miss some time with a knee injury, Giants fans got a close look at what the duo is capable of last Sunday when they combined for over 200 rushing yards.
3. Buffalo Bills
The Bills are another AFC East team that had been linked to several notable running backs such as Dalvin Cook and A.J. Dillon among others this offseason. General manager Brandon Beane also admitted that the team expressed a degree of interest in trading for then-Panthers All-World running back Christian McCaffrey last season before he was ultimately traded to the 49ers.
Once that fell through, the Bills acquired Nyheim Hines from the Colts with the hope that he would fill an important role as a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield. Unfortunately for Hines and the Bills, things haven’t gone as planned. Hines ran for negative three (no, that’s not a typo) rush yards and caught five passes in nine games as a member of the Bills in 2022. Unfortunately, he was involved in a jet ski accident this offseason where he was struck by another rider while “sitting stationary,” per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. While the injuries he sustained are thankfully non-life threatening, he is expected to miss the entire 2023 season.
Bills second-year running back James Cook has shown flashes of potential to be a three-down workhorse, but continues to cede work to veteran tailbacks Latavius Murray and Damien Harris. Barkley could add another level of dynamism that this offense is sorely lacking behind All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs. A trio of Josh Allen, Barkley, and Diggs could result in one of the NFL’s most potent offensive attacks.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Baker Mayfield-led Bucs have been one of the more pleasant surprises in this young season. Through five weeks, the Bucs are currently 3-1 and in first place in the NFC South standings. They’ve paired their top-10 defensive unit with a formidable offense that is capable of beating you through the air with their two stud wide receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
However, they have failed to get the run game going thus far through four games, but it hasn’t been for lack of effort. They currently rank No. 25 in the NFL in terms of yards per game (87), but 10th in rushing attempts per game (29.3). Barkley could help bring the balance and rushing attack this offense is sorely lacking and in search of.
Similar to the Bills, they too have a second-year running back in Rachaad White who has operated as a true three-down running back for his team thus far in 2023. White has shown glimpses, but he may be best suited in a complementary role rather than a workhorse role.
White has averaged 3.3 yards per carry (the league average is roughly 4.3) on 15.75 carries per game. In a wide-open and very winnable division, the Bucs have a chance to turn a feel-good story into a legitimate postseason team if they trade for Barkley.
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens would be the most ideal landing spot for Barkley for several reasons. First, it would fill a major position of need given the revolving door that has been the Ravens running back position in recent years. J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill have all dealt with their fair share of injuries over the years and even when they’ve been healthy, quarterback Lamar Jackson has still been the team’s best option out of the backfield.
Next, the idea of pairing Barkley with arguably the most dangerous dual-threat quarterback in the NFL would create a dynamic backfield duo and make the Ravens an even more legitimate Super Bowl contender than they already are. Opposing defenses would have a tough decision to make every time the Ravens decide to run a read option. Do they sell out to try and contain Barkley? Or, do they account for Jackson and his ability to tuck the ball and run, creating exploitable matchups and additional running lanes for Barkley if/when Jackson decides to hand the ball off?
Next, it would reunite Barkley with his former partner in crime, Odell Beckham Jr. They were teammates in 2018 during Barkley’s rookie season when Barkley won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and the pair accounted for over 3,000 yards from scrimmage. Beckham was traded to the Browns that offseason and Giants fans were left wondering what could’ve been between the star duo. While Beckham may not be the player he once was, the Ravens could trade for Barkley and live out the hypothetical scenario Big Blue nation has always wanted to see for more than one season.