Giants RB Saquon Barkley open to a new team, and the Panthers should be on the shortlist
It sounds unbelievable to say, but the Carolina Panthers should be in the market for a new running back, and there is one name that could be open to sign. In an interview with Complex, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley admitted to being open to finding a new team. And after the Panthers […]
It sounds unbelievable to say, but the Carolina Panthers should be in the market for a new running back, and there is one name that could be open to sign.
In an interview with Complex, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley admitted to being open to finding a new team. And after the Panthers struggled to run the ball efficiently in 2023, that new team could be in the NFC South.
"It's rare for a guy to be on one team his whole career," Barkley said. "But what I love to be in the likes of Eli Manning, Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber. Yeah, but at the same time, I'm not naive, and I'm not. I'm not a fool anymore. I'm at ease that whatever happens, I would love for it to be done, but if it can't, and I'm able to move on, I would love to go to a team where I can help them win the Super Bowl for sure."
In the 2023 offseason – after a standoff with the Giants – Barkley inked a one-year, $10 million deal. It was the Giants' franchise tag offer. However, Barkley held out for some time hoping to land a long-term extension that never came.
Meanwhile, the Panthers wasted money in 2023 by signing former Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders.
Carolina gave Sanders a four-year, $25.4 million contract. It was a deal the team instantly regretted. Sanders amassed an embarrassing 432 yards and one touchdown.
Chuba Hubbard also quickly outplayed him to claim the lead-back role. Hubbard is a nice player, but as the No. 1 rushing option, the Panthers' offense is limited.
That is where Barkley could make a difference. And with him being open to playing on a new team, it would behoove Carolina to at least attempt to bring in a star running back that helped the Giants reach the playoffs in 2022.
Running backs may be falling out of vogue in the NFL. But Barkley is a real difference-maker when healthy. He is now open to finding a new team, and it is in the Panthers' best interest to at least go calling.
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