Giants GM: We're not trying to trade Saquon Barkley

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Giants general manager Joe Schoen raised some eyebrows at the NFL Scouting Combine last month when he didn’t dismiss the idea of trading former No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley if the right offer came along. In fact, Schoen said the Giants were “open for business” when it came to Barkley and any other Giants player who might draw attention from around the league.

But Schoen quickly realized that he needed to clear the air with Barkley to make sure the fifth-year running back didn’t think the Giants were trying to get rid of him.

“That was taken a little out of context at the Combine,” Schoen said Monday at the NFL’s spring meetings. “I haven’t called one team on Saquon. I said I would listen if people called on any players. I’d be irresponsible if I didn’t. That doesn’t mean I’m going to do every deal. I haven’t called one team on Saquon Barkley.”

But some teams have reached out to the Giants, Schoen said. While not identifying which teams or how many other clubs expressed interest, Schoen said he called Barkley shortly after making his remarks at the Combine to make sure he understood the situation.

“I reached out to him immediately after all that happened,” Schoen said. “I [told Barkley] if someone is going to call and offer something ridiculous, you’re going to listen. It doesn’t mean you’re going to do a deal or say yes to it. We have an offensive head coach [in Brian Daboll]. He likes to keep as many pieces as he can.”

Schoen said he called Barkley about an hour after his Combine news conference, and while the recently hired GM couldn’t speak for Barkley, he said, “We’ve had a great relationship since I’ve been here. I feel like from my end, we’ve had good communication, and he’s got a good relationship with [Daboll] and they’ve had good conversations, too. I think we’re in a good spot.

“At no point did I say we were shopping Saquon or we’re going to trade him. That’s not how it was. I know people ran with it and said we were shopping him, but we weren’t.”

Barkley is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but questions about his durability have surfaced the last three seasons. After a spectacular rookie season in 2018, he missed games in each of the next three years. He missed nearly all of the 2020 season with a knee injury and dealt with ankle problems in 2019 and 2021.

Giants president and co-owner John Mara said Sunday that the Giants are not actively shopping Barkley, although he said he won’t stand in the way if a deal is made.

“Joe is the general manager, and if he and the head coach want to make a personnel decision and they have a conviction on it, I’m not going to interfere with it,” he said. “But that’s not something that we’re actively looking to do.”

Cornerback James Bradberry has been another subject of trade speculation, and Schoen said Monday that he would consider a deal “if it’s the right offer and it makes sense for the New York Giants.”

Schoen said Bradberry is “28 years old, he’s two years removed from a Pro Bowl season, and he’s still a high-caliber starting corner.” Kansas City has been mentioned as a team that might have interest in Bradberry.

Schoen indicated that the team isn’t in a rush to decide whether to sign quarterback Daniel Jones to a fifth-year option.

“We have until May 2 to decide that,” he said. “We’ll continue to develop that. We’ll continue to have those conversations as we move forward.”

Schoen said wide receiver Sterling Shepard (Achilles) and linebacker Blake Martinez (knee) are making progress from their injuries and hope to be ready for the start of the season in September.

Schoen also expressed confidence that the Giants’ salary- cap situation, which has prevented the team from investing heavily in free agency this offseason, will be much improved by 2023.

Notes & quotes: Former Giants guard Will Hernandez signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Monday. Hernandez, a second-round pick in 2018 out of the University of Texas-El Paso, started 56 games for the Giants, including every game in 2018-19 and 2021. He could play right guard for the Cardinals; former Giants first-round pick Justin Pugh is the team’s left guard . . . The Giants signed former Cardinals guard Max Garcia to a one-year deal. Garcia, 30, who also can play center, played the last three seasons with Arizona after four years with Denver.

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”