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Saquon Barkley to Giants: 'I don't want to get traded'

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•10/20/23•

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saquon barkley
Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports

The NFL trade deadline is approaching. But Saquon Barkley says he doesn’t want the the Giants to send him to another team.

“Sitting here, everyone knows how I feel. Everyone knows I don’t want to get traded,” Barkley told reporters. “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.”

Barkley added: “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.”

The Giants are struggling, winning just once this season. Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain Sept. 17 against the Cardinals. NYC won the game. Barkley is just now healthy. He played against the Bills last Sunday night, rushing for 93 yards. Although quarterback Daniel Jones was out with a neck injury, the Giants were far more competitive with Barkley in the backfield.

New York selected Barkley, the former Penn State star, with the second pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 31. All trade activity must be finished by 4 p.m. Eastern.

Saquon Barkley rushed for 93 yards last Sunday night against the Bills, their in-state rivals. It was his first game back since spraining his ankle against the Cardinals (Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports)

Saquon Barkley is Giants’ most valuable asset on trade market

Here’s what doesn’t play in Saquon Barkley’s favor. The Giants, a playoff team last year, may look to scramble the roster, knowing the season is in a tailspin. And Barkley is the team’s best player. The New York Post reported before training camp started that two teams reached out to the Giants to ask about Barkley’s availability. The Dolphins were one of them, but Miami now is quite pleased with rookie De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.

Barkley and the Giants had a contract standoff that lasted through OTAs and minicamp. But on the first day of training camp, the two-time Pro Bowl back signed a one-year deal for $10.1 million plus $1 million in incentives. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season. That status may prompt the Giants to test the trade market.

“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.

The Giants play host to the Commanders. Sunday.