Saquon Barkley is no longer just the Giants’ best playmaker.
He also is their most tradeable asset ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline for making deals.
That’s a new role for Barkley that has been created by the combination of his expiring contract and the Giants’ surprising 1-5 start.
A lot has changed since the Giants turned down at least two teams, including the Dolphins, that inquired about trading for the two-time Pro Bowl running back in the offseason when he had not yet signed his one-year, $10.1 million franchise tag, as first reported in July by The Post.
Barkley’s longtime stance on remaining a “Giant for life” remains the same, however.
“Everyone knows how I feel,” Barkley said after Thursday’s practice. “Everyone knows I don’t want to get traded.”
If Barkley and the Giants had closed the final negotiation gaps of $1 million to $2 million in both average annual salary and total guaranteed money over the life of a new three-year contract, or if the team were off to a better start, then the idea of Barkley being available would make less sense.
It could’ve been impossible if he held out of training camp for concessions like a no-trade clause, but he didn’t.
“Obviously, I’ve been vocal and public about how I feel about this organization and where I want to be,” Barkley said. “Knowing the business and seeing that side of it, there’s a lot of things I can’t control. I don’t think anybody in their right mind would want to get traded anywhere. It’s not an easy thing to do: You’ve got to move. I have a family. I would love to be here.”
However, anything is possible — especially if the Giants lose one of (or both of) the games Sunday against the Commanders and Oct. 29 against the Jets.
Barkley claims “it never crossed my mind” that the end of his six-year tenure could be near.
“I can’t control that,” Barkley said. “It’s not like I’m able to make any decisions or have any say in that. The only say that I have is the way I show up to work and the way I compete.”
Barkley answered concerns about his health last week by carrying 24 times for 93 yards against the Bills in his return from a three-week absence due to a high ankle sprain.
There have been “no setbacks” in recovery.
“Not playing in three weeks and having the workload that I had, you’re obviously going to be a little sore,” Barkley said, “but … just continuing to take care of my body and stay strong for this upcoming week and for the rest of the season.”
The biggest deterrents to trading Barkley for draft picks might be the scary propositions of how the offense could look and what the home crowds could be without the face of the franchise.
Barkley has scored two of the five touchdowns for an offense that has gone 205 consecutive game minutes (and counting) without finding the end zone, and his backups are rushing for 2.5 yards per carry.
“Saquon’s a big piece of our running game, but I have complete confidence in all the other guys as well to do the job,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said before ignoring all empirical evidence in favor of coachspeak. “Saquon has big-play ability — all of our backs have big-play ability.”
Barkley will be owed $4.9 million after this week — not a steep price for a contender looking to add a difference-maker.
The Colts just re-signed running back Jonathan Taylor to a three-year, $42 million extension.
“My focus is to be the leader I can be for this team to try to get this thing on the right track,” Barkley said.
Barkley averages 129.5 yards from scrimmage with five career touchdowns in seven games against Washington.
“All it takes is one — one win to get the confidence,” Barkley said. “Even in the games you lose, you can find that sometimes that can be a helpful turning point throughout the season. We could use that [loss to the Bills] as the turning point and help catapult us to come into this week playing back in our stadium, with our fans against a divisional opponent and get a divisional win. Could be the start of something special.”
Or the precursor to a premature ending.
