A lot has been made about the future of New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. Ever since he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft he has been under the spotlight as the front office, led by general manager Dave Gettleman, went against all conventional wisdom using a pick that high on a running back.
Unless the Giants won a Super Bowl, it was going to be difficult to justify such a selection being made. There certainly aren’t qualms about the person or player who the pick was used on, but selecting a running back that high, with so many other holes on the roster, was a decision that set the franchise back multiple seasons.
Fast forward to today, and all of the worries people had about the selection at the time persist. Barkley hasn’t impacted winning as much as you are hoping a No. 2 overall pick does as the Giants have one playoff appearance after just wrapping up his sixth season with the team.
NFL News & Rumors: Saquon Barkley & New York Giants Updates
There is a chance this was his last game with the Giants, as no one knows what the future will hold. If last season’s free agency for Barkley is an indication of things to come, the long-term deal he seeks won’t be found in New York.
Last year, Barkley had the franchise tag placed on him after a four-year extension was signed with quarterback Daniel Jones. He missed all of the team’s organized activities in the offseason as the sides negotiated. But, as the deadline for franchise-tagged players to work out a long-term deal came and went without a deal, attention turned to how long Barkley could remain away from the team.
In a surprising turn of events, it wasn’t as long as predicted. Barkley signed an amended one-year deal right before training camp so that he didn’t miss any time, as he wanted to be with his teammates for training camp and preseason to start putting in work for the 2023 campaign.
That decision showed the leadership Barkley possesses and how much the guys look up to him. He could have held out and preserved his health in hopes of landing a long-term deal this offseason. There was nothing to gain by showing up at the start of training camp, but Barkley knew it was best for the team and his teammates.
A respected person inside the Giants’ locker room, the team has to do everything they can to bring him back. Paying running backs isn’t what most franchises do, but Barkley means more to the Giants than the production he provides on the field.
NFL News & Rumors: Saquon Barkley & New York Giants Updates
What the team would lose in the locker room, from a leadership perspective, would be a massive loss. Replacing someone like that would not be easy, and the other players would certainly not be thrilled. After the game, Barkley provided yet another example of the kind of teammate he is, personally talking to every player on the team following their Week 18 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I just made sure that I went around and told every single player that I’m thankful for them and it was an honor to play alongside all these guys,” Barkley said post-game.
Completing his sixth season in the NFL, Barkley knows how ruthless the business can be. Sunday is the last time that a group of players will share the locker room as changes will inevitably be made in the offseason.
Knowing and accepting that grim truth isn’t easy, so Barkley wanted his teammates to know how important they were to him. The Giants need to do everything they can to bring Barkley back as he isn’t only the key cog to their offensive attack but a respected leader and veteran in the locker room who would be nearly impossible to replace.
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