It’s no secret Saquon Barkley wants to remain a New York Giant for the remainder of his career. It’s what he’s said over and over again.
He’s been embracing the fact that despite his feelings, it’s not ultimately up to him.
“I’ve mentioned before that I wanted to be a Giant for life,” Barkley said via SNY. “That was a goal of mine when I got drafted. I wanted to leave a legacy here, but it’s out of my control. I truly have no say. It’s really up to those guys upstairs. Me sitting here saying I want to be a Giant for life like I did last year doesn’t help or doesn’t hurt, so I’ll just leave it up to those guys.”
Saquon Barkley on possibly exploring the free agent market:
"Did a fresh start cross my mind? When you look at the season, the way it went, anybody may want a fresh start, a clean slate. If I hit the open market, that was God's plan." pic.twitter.com/LgeQPAWsmM
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) January 3, 2024
When trade rumors began to circulate around the running back, he made it clear he doesn’t want to leave the Giants. Luckily, the front office ensured him that wasn’t going to be the case. While it didn’t quite give him a peace of mind, Barkley’s extension process isn’t exactly new.
He rejected an offer that was in the $12 million per year range.
“Did a fresh start cross my mind? I guess anybody — when you look at the season, the way it went — that anybody would want a fresh start,” Barkley said. “I’m not saying somewhere else, just a clean slate. That’s how I look at it, to be honest. If I hit the open market, that’s God’s plan for me to get another opportunity and to continue to try to create a legacy for myself in my football career.”
[SNY on X]