Bruce R is our guest blogger.
After the 2023 season, Joe Schoen faced a choice. Should he commit big money to Saquan Barkley? Barkley was the face of the franchise. He was loved by the fans and the owner. But, he also was a running back with an injury history going into his 7th season.
As the blog has documented in the past, Barkley was Dave Gettleman’s original sin. Drafting a running back at 1.02 is a waste of draft capital. Drafting a running back at 1.02 in 2018 was particularly flagrant. Teams were desperate to get QB/Sam Darnold. They would’ve paid a fortune to trade up. Gettleman famously wouldn’t answer the phone while the Giants were on the clock.
Schoen stood tough and Barkley walked. While mainstream thought is that Schoen made a big error in letting Barkley leave NY, this is not consistent with the state of RB in the NFL Schoen pivoted appropriately. He took Barkley’s money and gave it to —- Brian Burns, a freakish edge rusher entering his prime years. The deal? Carolina got the Giants’ second round and fifth round picks in 2024 and a conditional fifth round pick in 2025. Giants got Burns and a fifth round pick in 2024 (5.166). Who did the Giants get with that pick? Tyrone Tracy.
So, in essence, they swapped Barkley, a Day 2 pick, and a Day 3 pick for Burns and Tracy. Terrific roster construction move. You get a beast who rushes the QB (currently a DPOY candidate) and a 1000 yard rusher on a rookie contract. Sure, Barkley was an MVP player for the Eagles, but keeping him wasn’t going to make the Giants a playoff team in 2024. And trying to will away the decision to let Barkley go ignores the fact that PHL had a stronger OL that was going to maximize Barkley’s value. PHL was willing and able to pay a lot more because it was more justified than most other franchises, including the Giants.
Jump to the present. Burns has 7 sacks and is a vocal leader of a young but improving defense. He’s a terrific mentor for the Giants’ next beast EDGE rusher, Abdul Carter. Tracy is back from injury and will be a potent one-two punch with another Day 3 bargain RB (Skattebo). Barkley is showing the wear on his tires. The Eagles’ OL is also showing vulnerability. That RB contract yielded a Super Bowl but it’s coming with more cost than previously anticipated
The blog has rightfully criticized some of Schoen’s moves. But, walking from Barkley was appropriate.