Giants owner addresses Saquon Barkley trade rumors

There has been some talk this offseason about the New York Giants potentially trading Saquon Barkley, but team owner John Mara insists no one is pushing for that to happen.

Mara told reporters on Sunday that the Giants are not shopping Barkley. Though, he said he would not stand in the way of any personnel decisions head coach Brian Daboll or general manager Joe Schoen want to make.

“We’re not shopping Saquon but Joe’s the general manager,” Mara said, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “If he and the head coach want to make a personnel decision and they have a conviction about it I’m not going to interfere with it. But that’s not something we’re actively looking to do.”

A recent report claimed the Giants are hoping to unload Barkley if they can get a decent draft pick in return. Mara probably would not admit that even if it were the case.

Barkley has an extensive injury history and is owed $7.2 million next season. He averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in 13 games in 2021. The Giants are almost certainly open to trading the former No. 2 overall pick if the right offer comes along. We wouldn’t be surprised if Mara and others simply don’t expect that to happen.

Photo: Mar 1, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley speaks during a radio interview during the 2018 NFL Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports