Let's Set Odds: Will Saquon Barkley Be Traded?

I really enjoyed acting in high school. It was fun to pretend to be someone else and catch a glimpse into the mindset of whatever role I played.

Today, I'll be throwing on my "Oddsmaker Hat" and we're going to play a fun game of "Let's Set The Odds!" In this edition, we'll answer the question at the front of every Giants fan's mind: Will Saquon Barkley Be Traded?

This was not the future Dave Gettleman envisioned when he made Saquon the #2 overall pick. But frankly, based on his moves as the General Manager of the Giants, I'm not sure he envisioned any kind of future. The time has come to turn the page and lay the foundation for what hopefully will return the Giants to glory, and that means all options are on the table.

Will Saquon Barkley Be Traded?

There's no doubt that Saquon is an elite talent when healthy. Just look at this burst:

He's got an incredible blend of size and speed while being one of the best pass-catchers at his position in the NFL. The problem, though, is that he's almost never healthy.

Saquon has played in only 15 games over the last two years and it isn't like running backs get healthier as they age. In fact, historically running backs experience a bigger drop-off in performance as their mileage increases than any other position in football.

If the Giants are going to get any kind of value for Barkley, it has to be now. And New York desperately needs to shed money. They have to dump $11.5 million by March 16th to get under the cap, and trading Saquon would erase the $7.2 million he's owed with his fifth-year option.

The Giants won't be able to get anything close to the #2 overall pick they used on him though, and they know that if he's healthy he brings a dynamism to the offense that pairs well with quarterback Daniel Jones' mobility. But they're listening to calls, and if someone offers a 2nd or 3rd-round pick then New York almost has to accept.

At this point, with the Giants' cap space in such dire straights, I think the odds he's traded are increasing by the day. I'd set it as something like this:

Odds Saquon Barkley Will Be Traded

• Yes: +250
• No: -430

It would be painful for New York to move on from Barkley after investing so much into his career, so I think they'll exhaust every option they can to stay put. But as each day passes and they have to find a way to shed money, all it'll take is one solid offer and he's gone.