Boomer Esiason: Giants could shop Saquon Barkley before trade deadline

The 2-1 New York Giants remain one of the positive surprises of the opening month of the 2022 NFL season despite Monday's 23-16 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys, thanks largely to the efforts of star running back Saquon Barkley.

Per ESPN stats, Barkley is second in the league with 317 rushing yards on the campaign, and the 25-year-old in the final year of his rookie contract has also contributed 13 receptions for 91 yards. As noted by Chris Rosvoglou of The Spun, former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, who serves as a host on New York sports radio station WFAN, explained during a Wednesday appearance on the "Up & Adams" program that now could be the right time for the Giants to shop the second overall pick of the 2018 draft. 

"Saquon is probably as good now as he’ll ever be in the NFL," Esiason said. "First couple games here, he redeems himself—in my eyes anyway—he’s running hard, lowering his shoulders, you can see the burst is back in his legs … why would the Giants keep him? Especially if you can get a reasonably good draft pick." 

According to Bridget Hyland of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Esiason named the Buffalo Bills as a potential buyer for Barkley's services. 

The NFL trade deadline is set for Nov. 1. 

The idea of the Giants trading Barkley has been discussed among members of the NFL community since at least last fall before the organization hired ex-Bills assistant general manager Joe Schoen as their new general manager. Neither Schoen nor first-year head coach Brian Daboll had anything to do with the Giants drafting Barkley, and both are seemingly committed to a needed roster rebuild that could include acquiring a draft asset for the ball-carrier. 

For now, Barkley will be part of the Big Blue squad that takes on the 2-1 Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium this Sunday.