Giants RB Saquon Barkley linked with Bills in trade proposal

The 4-1 New York Giants may be buyers instead of sellers ahead of the Nov. 1 trade deadline, but that hasn't stopped ESPN's Bill Barnwell from suggesting Big Blue could soon jettison star running back Saquon Barkley to a willing buyer. 

For a piece published Thursday, Barnwell wrote the Giants could send Barkley and a 2023 seventh-round draft pick to the 4-1 Buffalo Bills for ball-carrier Zack Moss and a 2023 second-round pick before Week 9 of the campaign. 

Barnwell noted the Bills would like that Barkley's physical nature could help punish opponents that "want to play light boxes and two-high alignments to avoid giving up big plays to quarterback Josh Allen," who happens to be an early Most Valuable Player candidate ahead of Halloween. 

"Barkley is a free agent after the season, which also plays in Buffalo's favor, since it would likely recoup a compensatory pick for him if he leaves in free agency," Barnwell continued. "The Bills would be renting Barkley for a second-rounder before landing what would likely be a fourth-round pick in 2024."

One imagines Giants first-year head coach Brian Daboll and first-year general manager Joe Schoen currently aren't keen on hinting to others in the locker room they're punting on what's become a promising season by trading the offense's best player regardless of his contract status. ESPN stats show Barkley is second in the NFL with 533 rushing yards and third with 97 carries on the campaign. He's scored three touchdowns on the ground to go along with 18 catches for 143 yards. 

To compare, Moss has 91 yards on 17 carries combined with seven receptions for 27 yards. 

"The Giants could franchise Barkley after the season, but it would be tough for a rebuilding team to justify giving the oft-injured back a significant extension as he exits his rookie deal," Barnwell added. "If they're going to lose Barkley after the season, it's better to trade him now and get a significant pick (and a flyer on Moss) in return."

When the Giants were 3-1 earlier this month, beat writer Paul Schwartz called the idea of New York trading Barkley "ridiculous." Such opinions could change, though, if New York loses three straight before the deadline for such transactions comes and goes.