Was Saquon Barkley accurately valued by the New York Giants in their 2024 roster-building plan?
This has been a looming question for the Giants since the end of the 2023 season.
GM Joe Schoen admitted on the first episode of ‘Hard Knocks’ that while running back was a need with Barkley entering free agency, it was not a top priority compared to pass rusher, wide receiver, and cornerback needs.
Schoen also expressed doubt that other NFL teams would value Barkley enough to trade for him and meet his contract demands.
EJ Smith gathered quotes from Barkley over the offseason, revealing his sentiments about his departure from the Giants.
One quote from a recent high school camp organized by Barkley captures his current mindset:
“Anyone that tells you that you don’t get motivation from naysayers is lying,” Barkley said. “You see everything. Even if you block it out, you make stuff up in your head. The motivation comes from me wanting to be great, having a purpose, being passionate about the game and wanting to win championships and become a Hall of Fame player. Right now in my career, I’m far from that. But I feel like if I finish my second [half of] my career strong, I’m going to be able to put my name in that book.”
However, the Giants disagreed. Schoen acknowledged Barkley’s talent but emphasized that the team did not see the value in retaining him.
“You’re paying the guy [Daniel Jones] $40 million, it’s not to hand the ball off to a $12 million back,” he said on Hard Knocks.
The Giants under Schoen have shifted their focus to investing in pass catchers and incorporating advanced analytics.
Schoen’s approach contrasts with the previous GM Dave Gettleman, as he embraces analytics in decision-making.
Analytics indicate that passing the ball is generally more valuable than running it in most scenarios.
[Note: The shift to using more quarters coverage in the NFL to contain passing attacks has influenced the value of running the ball. Nevertheless, the analysis on the value of running versus passing remains relevant]
Age is another factor to consider, as Barkley, at 27, has faced injuries that raise concerns about his long-term effectiveness.
While some question Barkley’s longevity, he remains confident in his abilities and dismisses age as a significant factor.
Barkley believes in his potential to play well into his 30s, citing examples of other NFL greats who excelled in their later years.
“That’s [BS],” Barkley said. “Marcus Allen played until he was 36, 37 years old. Some of the greats that I admire and I look up and study, they played well into their 30s. Barry [Sanders] left at 29, 30 and he left in his prime. It’s what you put in, what you put in is what you get out. That’s any position. There’s this weird thing with running backs right now. Is it a difficult position to play? Yes. Do you take wear and tear? Yes. But who are you or anyone else to tell me how long I can play the game? I call [BS].”
“When it’s over for me, it’s over for me,” he added. “But I feel like if I continue to put the right stuff in my body and do the right things, there will be a day when I’m 32 or 33 and I want to hang it up, and I’m going to do it just because.”
The debate continues on whether the Giants made the right decision in letting Barkley go and allocating resources elsewhere, while the Eagles opted to sign him to a lucrative contract.
In the long run, the Giants’ strategy may prove to be correct given Barkley’s injury history and age. However, in the short term, Barkley’s new team provides him with a strong supporting cast for success.
While Barkley may initially thrive, only time will tell if the Giants’ evaluation of his value was ultimately accurate.
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