The New York Giants could be on the verge of holding a trade deadline fire sale, but it doesn't sound like one of the organization's brightest stars is going anywhere.
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According to a report from Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Giants do not have any plans to trade franchise running back Saquon Barkley.
The Insiders on @NFLGameDay: The #Giants won’t trade RB Saquon Barkley; #Packers RB Aaron Jones is expected to play; More on the #Patriots new contract for coach Bill Belichick this offseason. pic.twitter.com/V1RpJeErAj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 22, 2023
New York publicly acknowledging they do not plan to move Barkley comes on the heels of the running back telling reporters that he doesn't want to go anywhere.
"Sitting here, everyone knows how I feel. Everyone knows I don't want to get traded," Barkley said Thursday. "I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to get traded anywhere. It's not an easy thing to do. You have to move. I have a family. I would love to be here.
"But like I said, it's not in my control. My focus is to be the leader I can be for this team and get this thing on the right track."
Barkley is playing this season on a one-year contract after the Giants initially applied the franchise tag to him this offseason. And even as New York is mired at 1-5 (entering Sunday's action), it doesn't appear that the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL is going to be on the move.
Despite missing two games due to an ankle injury, Barkley has rushed for 207 yards with one touchdown, while averaging 3.9 yards per carry so far this season.
Barkley is among one of the Giants' most vocal leaders and respected players inside the locker room, so general manager Joe Schoen and the front office trading him could signal a full-fledged teardown would be coming.
But, just how committed the Giants are to Barkley long-term will be determined this offseason, when the 26-year-old is set to be an unrestricted free agent for the second consecutive offseason.
