After the NY Giants traded veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks, people are waiting to see if any other standouts will be leaving East Rutherford as well. It goes without saying, but a huge name to keep an eye on ahead of the trade deadline is Saquon Barkley.
According to Josina Anderson, several teams have reached out to the G-Men and Joe Schoen to see if No. 26 is available. Schoen, per Anderson, has told the organizations inquiring that Barkley isn't going anywhere. However, could a last-minute change of plans be on the way Tuesday?
Inquiries have still arisen on #Giants RB Saquon Barkley, but said teams are being told he 'isn't going anywhere.'
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 30, 2023
Barkley is not only a core piece, but the clear face of the franchise.
The Giants are telling teams that Saquon Barkley will not be traded
Earlier this month, it was reported that both Schoen and Brian Daboll told the former first-round pick that he won't be traded and that he'll be closing out the campaign with Big Blue. The hope is that the two sides will be able to meet in the middle on an extension next offseason.
For this year, though, Saquon is playing on the non-exclusive franchise tag. With it being up in the air if he'll return next season (the Giants could tag him again in the coming months), coupled with the fact that NY is 2-6, there's been plenty of speculation that he could be sent to a new team.
While Schoen is turning teams away, what if an offer is put on the table that the second-year GM simply can't refuse? Schoen was able to land a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick for Williams, which no one saw coming.
Barkley could get the Giants more. If a contender is desperate enough, maybe they'd be willing to put multiple second-round picks on the table for Schoen to think about. We'll find out Tuesday if anything happens, but all signs are pointing to the speedster staying put, which should make plenty of fans happy.