There has been a lot said about the New York Giants running back situation. There are a bunch of question marks around star running back, Saquon Barkley. Can he stay healthy? Will he be a consistent three or four yards per carry kind of back? Can he replicate his rookie year? I believe that even if the answer to all of those questions are true, his days as a Giant are numbered.
What if he has a bad season?
By bad season, I am referring to health and production. If he has another ankle injury that lingers, or a more impactful injury that impacts the amount of games played, the Giants will move on. Running backs are already being devalued, so if on top of that they are also injury prone, they can not be kept on the roster. Now on the other hand, if he is healthy, but the production is not there, the Giants will still let him go. He could play all 17 games and be healthy, but unless he produces, he wont be a Giant for long.
What if he has a good season?
Lets say that he does play all 17 games. Has a similar year that earned him Offensive Rookie of the year in 2018. Rushing 260 times for 1307 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, while also tallying 91 receptions 721 yards and four receiving touchdowns, I do not see him even finishing the year as a Giant if he is being that productive. If by the trade deadline, Barkley is healthy and productive the Giants will trade him for draft picks. I do not believe that even a great year will keep the running back in New York.
Trade Options?
If he does go on the trade block, what are some of the realistic landing spots? It is most likely going to be a Super Bowl contending team that is a running back away. The top teams that come to mind are the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Those teams will all need a second option or an option out of the backfield and if Saquon is healthy he can be a dynamic options for those chasing a Super Bowl.